Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers was used to amplify the ITS-rDNA regions of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) in soil samples from Indonesia. Amplified DNA fragments showed that a single species, Globodera rostochiensis, with fragment size 238 bp occurred in East Java, and West Java, while mixed populations of G. rostochiensis and G. pallida with fragment size 391 bp were only found in Central Java.
Keywords Globodera rostochiensis . G. pallidaPotato Cyst Nematode (PCN) is the most important plant parasitic nematode of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). It has spread from Europe to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, such as Pakistan, India, Philippines (Jatala and Bridge 1990). In March 2003, potato cyst nematodes were found in East Java, Indonesia (Indarti et al. 2004). In further investigations we have found the nematode in Central Java and West Java and now it is a damaging pathogen in potato plantations in Indonesia. To control PCN effectively, it is important to identify its species and the pathotypes. Traditionally, routine soil sampling and identification of PCN in Indonesia has been based on examination of morphological features. However, this is time-consuming and frequently unreliable because of morphological similarity of the two PCN species, Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida.Identification by molecular techniques, for example DNA finger printing, offers a more rapid and precise identification of PCN species. Here, we report studies conducted to identify Indonesian populations of PCN by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).A soil survey was conducted at potato plantations in 24 regions of Java Island. A total of 40 soil samples were collected from these regions. Twenty samples were found to be infested with PCN in 11 regions (Table 1). Soil samples consisting of 100 cores of 15-20 g of soil were taken in a grid pattern throughout the plantations (EPPO 1998). Each 1,500-2,000 g composite sample was collected from soil down to a depth of approximately 100 mm, placed in a plastic bag and was labelled with the producer's name, field location, collection date, GPS coordinates, and sample number for laboratory identification. Samples were put into coolers for storage and transportation from the field and were submitted for processing to the Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor. Cysts were collected from 100 g soil sub-samples using a pair of sieves (840 and 250 mesh size) (Sheperd 1985) and then stored in Eppendorf tubes at room temperature.DNA was extracted using the modified method described by Subbotin et al. (2001) and Fullaondo et al. (1999). Five cysts from each region were collected randomly into an Eppendorf tube filled with 150 μl lyses buffer (125 mM KC; 25 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0; 3.75 mM MgCl2; 2.5 mM DTT; 1.125 % Tween 20 and 0.025 % gelatin) and 5 μl Proteinase K (600 μg/ml) (USB, UK) and were crushed using a plastic pistil. Following consecutive incubation periods at 65°C for 1 h and 95°C...