Detection of snow mold fungi in wheat plants by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of ribosomal proteins.

Abstract

Ribosomes were isolated from four snow mold fungi (Pythium paddicum, P. iwayamai, Typhula incarnata and Fusarium nivale) and wheat seedlings, and their proteins were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). No difference was found in electrophoretic patterns between P. paddicum and P. iwayamai. However, there were several differences among two Pythium species, T. incarnata, F. nivale and wheat. The ribosomes were isolated also from wheat seedlings infected with P. paddicum, T. incarnata and F. nivale individually, and their proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The distinctive fungal ribosomal protein bands were detected in all patterns obtained from the infected wheat plants. The possibility of the ribosomal protein-based assay to detect snow mold fungi in wheat plants is suggested.