Detection of genetic polymorphism by RAPD‐PCR in strains of the entomopathogenic fungus <i>Beauveria brongniartii</i> isolated from the European cockchafer ( <i>Melolontha</i> spp.)

Abstract

Genetic polymorphism in strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria brongniartii, isolated from Melolontha melolontha and M. hippocastani in different Europeansites, was investigated by RAPD-PCR. Strains of B. brongniartii isolated in Valled’Aosta (Italy) were highly virulent to M. melolontha, and potential relatednessamong these strains was investigated with RAPD markers obtained from 16 10-bp primers. Thisstudy shows that the strains analysed are closely related. The subdivision of the European strainsinto subgroups, obtained from numerical analyses of the data, does not appear to relate to eithergeographical origin or host insect. Individual strain-specific patterns of RAPD bands wereidentified for 24 strains. The remaining four strains consisted of two pairs, each of which showedidentical RAPD patterns.