DETECTION OFFUSARIUM OXYSPORUMF. SP. ELAEIDIS CAUSING FUSARIUM WILT OF OIL PALM USING LOOP-MEDIATED ISOTHERMAL AMPLIFICATION (LAMP)

Abstract

AbstractFusarium oxysporumf. sp.elaeidis(FOE) a pathogen that causes fusarium wilt disease in oil palm can be detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) but very time consuming. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) was used to rapidly detectFusarium oxysporumf. sp.elaeidis(FOE) in oil palm seedlings. Eight additionalFusarium oxysporumisolates collected from symptomatic oil palm trees (i.e. presumed-FOE as their pathogenicity was not confirmed) and five other non-FOE isolates were sampled from symptomatic mature oil palm trees and tomato respectively to broaden the scope of the research. The identities of FOE, presumed-FOE and non-FOE were established via sequencing. LAMP primers designed for detecting FOE or presumed-FOE were based on partial sequences ofSecreted In Xylem(SIX8) andP-450cytochrome. The earliest detection time forSIX8andP-450cytochrome primers were 4:00 mins and 6:45 mins respectively with both recording late time for detection at 26:30 mins. Annealing derivative curves were used for assessing the level of specificity for bothSIX8andP-450cytochrome, but none of the LAMP primers could distinguish between FOE, presumed-FOE and non-FOE.