Cross-transferability of SSR loci of Phaeosphaeria nodorum to Mauginiella scaettae

Mauginiella scaettae is one of the most critical and devastating fungal pathogens causing date palms inflorescence rot (khamedj). This pathogen, in severe attacks, can cause 80% loss of the annual harvest. In this study, seven SSR loci (have previously been isolated and characterized in Phaeosphaeria nodorum) were evaluated for transferability on 13 single-spore isolates ofM. scaettae obtained from eight different regions of Khuzestan province, Iran. A high level of transferability of SSRs was detected. Five primer pairs, including SNOD1, SNOD26, SNOD22, SNOD17, and SNOD21, were successfully amplified and produced an amplification product of the expected size range in thirteen isolates collected from eight locations. Two microsatellite markers, including SNOD5 and SNOD16, were not amplified and showed no amplification. The rate of amplification of five amplified SSR loci was different among isolates. A total of sixteen alleles were obtained across the five SSRs loci for thirteen isolates. Among all isolates examined, the highest rate (92.3%) and the lowest rate (7.7%) of amplification were done for SNOD26 and SNOD21 SSR loci, respectively. The loci SNOD1, SNOD26, and SNOD22 generated four, and SNOD17 locus generated three alleles, and the lowest number of alleles (one allele) was identified in the SNOD21 locus.