Variability of D2/D3 segment sequences of several populations and pathotypes of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida)

Potato cyst nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida) remain a key pest in the main potato growing regions of the Czech Republic. Due to difficult direct management and presence of diverse pathotypes attacking different potato cultivars the rapid and reliable diagnostics is of crucial importance. Currently, efforts are aimed at a description of different pathotypes based on DNA analysis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the homogeneity of sequences of D2/D3 segments of the 28S rDNA gene obtained from 3 populations of G. rostochiensis and 5 populations of G. pallida and estimate their value for diagnostic purposes. PCR amplification yielded a single fragment of the length of 700 bp approximately in all populations. The alignment score of the vast majority of all pair comparisons of G. rostochiensis and G. pallida populations varied from 98 to 99. In total 14 point deletions and 3 substitutions were observed. The variability of D2/D3 segments of potato cyst nematodes is rather low and this DNA region can be used for diagnostics on a species level because more differences were found after comparing with G. tabacum and G. millefolii sequences obtained from Gene Bank; however the applicability of D2/D3 sequences to routine diagnostics of potato cyst nematodes could be complicated by its similarity to corresponding sequences of the nematode G. artemisiae.