Development of molecular probes to detect Neozygites floridana in soil

• Grant number: 10/08215-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2010
• End date: July 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Italo Delalibera Júnior
• Grantee: Nijima Novello Rumenos
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The fungus Neozygites is an important biological control agent of spider mites. The progress in the scientific knowledge of this fungus is particularly dependent on efficient methods for identification and sampling it in the environment. Studies carried out recently with other fungi that have the same difficulties that Neozygites, showed the applicability of molecular techniques for these purposes. In this context, we propose a project aiming to determine the genetic variability of isolates of N. floridana by sequencing of the 18S and IGS regions of ribosomal RNA and Bt, RBP1, RBP2 and EF-1± regions of nuclear DNA. Isolates of N. floridana, obtained from different species of spider mites (Tetranychus evansi, T. urticae and Mononychellus planki), which are important pests of various crops of economic importance will be sequenced. Based on these DNA sequences, molecular probes will be developed to monitor N. floridana in soil samples and the data obtained in this project will be useful for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Neozygites in the future.