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Genetic Variability Studies on Cellulolytic Aspergillus terreus Fungi using RAPD-PCR Technique

Author: B.C. Game* and V.P. Chimote

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Abstract

Forty nine fungal cultures were isolated from rural and urban waste samples from different parts of Western Maharashtra. These isolates were screened for cellulase activity and further identified as Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger on the basis of cultural and microscopic features. Aspergillus terreus being a major group was selected for further investigations on genetic diversity by using RAPD-PCR technique with a aim to study the range of genetic differences between species within same genus. The PCR amplification profiles of these fungal cultures including standard MPKV reference strain of Aspergillus terreus with 16 random fungal primers generated 502 bands, out of which 349 bands were polymorphic, while 139 bands were unique. The average polymorphism observed was 97.21%. The genetic similarity index based on the pooled data of RAPD profiles from all the 16 primers ranged from 0.25 to 0.79 among isolates. The dendrogram and 2D PCO scatter plot construct

Keywords

Cellulase, Aspergillus terreus, RAPD-PCR, polymorphism, genetic variability.

Conclusion

There was wide genetic variability among Aspergillus terreus isolates at species level though they were from same ecological niche, which may be due to the minor genetic differences in the strains within same species or differential expression of genes. RAPD PCR is very useful to detect similarities and differences in different fungal species. Data generated by RAPD study is useful in estimating distances between and within same species and might help in further genomic research on differences in enzyme production levels within closely related population. Closely related species of other microorganisms can be similarly characterized at molecular and biochemical level.

References

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How to cite this article

Game, B. C. and Chimote, V. P. (2022). Genetic Variability Studies on Cellulolytic Aspergillus terreus Fungi using RAPD-PCR Technique. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(1): 102-107.