Development of microsatellite markers for the genetic analysis of Crinipellis perniciosa. In: Agrotrópica v. 17 p. 61-64, 2005.

Abstract

Witches’ broom disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), caused by Crinipellis perniciosa (Stahel) Singer, is the most important disease of cacao in the cacao growing areas of South America and Caribbean Islands. Very little is known about the genetic biology of the pathogen population, and this information is very important to the host improvement programs and deployment of resistant planting material. A collaborative America Countries international program was initiated to identify and describe the genetic diversity of Crinipellis perniciosa in South America. Microsatellites (SSR) constitute highly informative genetic markers for population genetic studies due to their co-dominant and multiallelic nature and distribution in the genome. SSR primers were searched in the C. perniciosa genome data base and designed as potential candidates to define an efficient, standardized, molecular fingerprinting protocol for this pathogen. These primers have been evaluated for reliability, widespread distribution across the C. perniciosa genome and their ability to discriminate isolates of this fungus . The final objective here is to study the diversity structure of the C. perniciosa population from the main cacao growing area in South America countries. Preliminary results are reported.