Study on molecular characteristics of alternaria species isolated from tomatoes based on Rflp-Pcr Technology

Most commercial cultivars of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., are susceptible to early blight(EB), a devastating fungal (Alternaria solani Sorauer) disease of tomato in the parts of the world. The disease causesplant defoliation. Alternaria spp. cause yield loss in tomato and many other agriculturally important plants. Information on population structure is critical in breeding for resistance to Alternaria blight in tomato

This study was carried out to characterize Alternaria isolates through PCR-RFLP. Alternaria spp. isolates were recovered from local cultivars from different tomato growing districts of Turkey. The PCR based assay was developed for the detection and identification of Alternaria spp.. Using specific primers designed from nuclear ribosomal ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer). Approximately 600 bp amplicons were obtained form ITS, The PCR products were cut with Hind III, EcoR I , TaqI, Hinf, Hah I and uncut with Pst I restriction endonucleases. There was no polymorphism among Alternaria spp. isolates at ITS regions.