International Journal of Genetics 5(1): 01-06, 2015 ISSN 2222-1301 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ijg.2015.5.1.9378 Genetic Diversity of Internal Transcribed Spacer Region of Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Wheat in Lagos State, Nigeria R.M. Kolawole, 2B.T. Thomas, 1,3J.B. Folorunso and 1A. Oluwadun 1,2 Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Olabisi 1 Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria 2 Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria 3 Department of Medical Laboratory, Health Services Directorate, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria 1 Abstract: The high prevalent rate of fungal contamination in wheat circulating in Lagos State, Nigeria necessitated the need to understand the diversity of Internal transcribed spacers of the ribosomal DNA region of the isolated filamentous fungi. Results obtained reveals inter specific variation among the isolated organisms with limited intra specific variability. It can therefore be inferred based on findings that ITS analysis could provide taxonomic evidence for the isolated organisms but may not be informative enough to score diversity. Key words: Genetic Diversity ITS Filamentous Fungi INTRODUCTION Wheat RAPD, RFLPs, DNA hybridization, AFLP and DNA sequences [12-17]. Endophytic isolates of A. alternata, however, have also been investigated using random amplified microsatellite (RAMS) markers which was originally used to measure genetic diversity of plants and animals [18], it has also been applied in studies of fungi [18-20] and particularly endophytic fungi. For examples, Burgess et al. [21] clearly distinguished between morphotypes of Sphaeropsis sapinea, a fungal endophyte of Pinus spp., using RAMS markers. Grünig et al.[22] have also differentiated between the dark septate endophytic fungi Phialocephala fortinii and type I of a non-sporulating mycelium, which had the same allozyme phenotype. With several molecular methods being developed, many species-specific primers targeting several genomic regions such as satellite DNA [23,24], the heat shock protein 70 gene [25-26], the topoisomerase I gene [27] and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) [28,29] or by using nonspecific primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the ITS regions and subsequent analysis with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) [30,31]. The ITS regions are located between the repeating array of nuclear 18S, 5.8S and 28S ribosomal RNA genes and have 100-200 copies/genome. Filamentous fungi are well known for the production of natural toxic compounds (mycotoxins) in several agricultural products [1]. These fungal contaminants causes biochemical deterioration and losses in nutritional quality [2,3]. They are also responsible for substantial effects in stored food stuffs including discoloration, production of off-odours, deterioration in technological quality [4,5] and mycotoxin contamination [6-8]. These fungi are gaining popularity in developing and under developed countries of the world due to their association with significant agricultural losses. Like other toxigenic organisms, these organisms produces secondary metabolites that are immunotoxic, genotoxic, carcinogenic, hepatotoxic among other effects [9-10]. Until about two decades ago, most studies of natural fungal strains and populations focused on phenotypic differences in morphology and physiology and when possible, mating. However, these phenotypic features are often difficult to observe, quantify, standardize and/ or analyze. In recent years, there has been substantial progress in the development of innovative methods to analyze fungi (and other organisms) at the molecular level [12]. For example, the genetic variation of saprobic and pathogenic A. alternata isolates was assessed using Corresponding Author: Thomas Benjamin Thoha, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]. 1 Intl. J. Genet., 5(1): 01-06, 2015 These regions are rapidly evolving and thus have been routinely used in species-level phylogeny in a wide range of organisms, including nematodes [32]. In B. xylophilus, the intraspecific variation of the ITS regions has been used to study the genetic structure of isolates from various regions of the world through sequencing [33-36] and RFLP analysis [30]. Intraspecific diversity between virulent and avirulent B. xylophilus isolates has been detected using RFLP analysis with the enzyme HhaI [37-38]. ITS genetic diversity has been reported within species and individuals from a diverse range of eukaryotes, including insects [39,40], marine sponges [41,42], fungi [43,44] and nematodes such as Meloidogyne [45], Brugia [46], Ascaris [47] and Pratylenchus [48]. However, to our knowledge, no data on ITS intra and inter isolate and intra-individual diversity in filamentous fungi from wheat in Lagos, Nigeria have been published. In the present research, the ITS rDNA regions was used to study the genetic diversity of filamentous fungi isolated from wheat circulating in Lagos State, Nigeria. was directly sequenced using an Automatic Sequencer 3730xl under Big DyeTM terminator cycling conditions at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Sequence and Statistical Analysis: Alignments and determination of consensus sequences were carried out using BioEdit [50]. Homologous sequences in the databases were searched using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool [51] while phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA software version 7.0. The statistical procedure for phylogenetic tree construction used was the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) while 10000 bootstrap replications was carried out for the test of phylogeny in a maximum composite likelihood pattern involving uniform substitution of the nucleotides. The substitution techniques includes transition and transversion. Also, the pattern of substitution selected among lineages was homogenous. All missing data and gaps were completely deleted in an analysis involving only the first second and third codon only. MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS Fungal Strains: The fungal strains used in this study was isolated in our previous study [49] and maintained on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 25°C. The isolates were kept at 4°C until needed. A total of twenty three strains of filamentous fungi belonging to six different genera and eight species were used for this study. These species of fungi were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, Trichoderma atroviride, Rhizopus stolonifer, Alternaria altenata and Penicillium verrucossum. When these isolates were characterized using the ITS region of the studied fungi, it was observed that the strains of filamentous fungi isolated from wheat shows both intra and inter genera similarities. As shown in this dendogram, some of the fungal strains shares relationship both within and between genera. Also, two strains of Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani, Trichoderma atroviridae and Aspergillus fumigatus were found sharing hundred percent similarity with each other while Rhizopus stolonifers, Penicillium verrucosum, Trichoderma atroviridae and Alternaria alternata have 33%, 30%, 37% and 19% similarities with a strain of Penicillium verrucosum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger respectively. Also, the number of clusters obtained from the dendogram is a function of the percentage of truncation as higher percentage of truncation was found to be directly proportional to higher numbers of clusters. DNA Extraction and Amplification of ITS Regions: Fungal DNA was extracted using a DNeasy® Blood and Tissue Mini kit (Qiagen, Germany) following manufacturer instructions. The ITS rDNA regions containing partial ITS1 and ITS 4 sequences were amplified with PCR using 50 ng extracted DNA and 1 U Dream Taq DNA polymerase (Fermentas, USA) in 1X Dream Taq buffer, 0.2 mM of each deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates and 1 ìM primers ITS1 (5´TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT TGC GG 3´) and ITS4 (5´TCC TCC GCT TAT TGA TAT GC 3´). The PCR reaction mix contained 0.5 ìM of each primer, 10 ìM deoxynucleotides, 1.5 mM MgCl2 and 1 x buffer (Promega). The suspension was heated at 95°C for 15 min in a PE 2400 (Perkin Elmer) thermocycler. One unit of the Taq Polymerase (Promega) was then added to each tube. PCR conditions were as follows: 35 cycles of denaturing at 94°C for 1 min; annealing at 55.5°C for 2 min and extension at 72°C for 2 min; and final extension at 72° for 10 min. The resulting amplification products were purified using a QIAquick® PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen) according to manufacturer instructions while both strands 2 Intl. J. Genet., 5(1): 01-06, 2015 100 99 19 17 100 3 99 84 100 TA2 FS2 AN3 45 AFL2 AFL3 60 38 PV3 RS1 RS2 63 3 FS1 FS3 AA AFU1 AN1 TA3 TA1 37 3 the highly ubiquitous nature of the isolated fungi. These organisms might have being dispersed by wind. Indeed, most are common soil saprophyte in many environments [58,59]. Alternatively, if the isolated fungi is endemic to wheat in Lagos, it may be more common in soils and on vegetation around the collection areas such that strongly directional winter east winds could potentially transport conidia from the environment into the wheat. Any efforts taken to control fungal infections of wheat should bear in mind the genetic diversity found in this study and the possibility that surrounding soils and vegetation and prevailing winds may be serving as sources of inoculum of this apparently common fungi. Before any control measure can be put in place, efforts should be made to identify all means of conidia dispersal and sources of inoculum, as well as the identity of the pathogen relative to the known phylogeny of this group [58]. Given the inherent difficulties in attempting to control such a potentially common and ubiquitous pathogen, further studies should address whether this fungus really is reducing plant recruitment at higher than normal levels. The results outlined in this study shows that while interspecific variation of the isolated fungi ITS region is relatively high, intraspecific variability is very limited and that ITS analysis has potential for developing species level markers for many, but not necessarily all, filamentous fungi species. It appears that ITS analysis is a potent tool for the taxonomic study of fungi, with the minute amounts of DNA required and the high reproducibility of this procedure making it an ideal method both for studying population heterogeneity in the field and the identification and monitoring of specific strains introduced into the soil. AA2 AA3 AN2 PV2 AFU2 15 30 100 AFU3 PV1 33 2.0 1.5 RS3 1.0 0.5 0.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The genetic variation of filamentous fungi population isolated from wheat in Lagos, Nigeria was investigated using ITS1 and ITS 4 primers. The inter and intra genera similarities and diversities observed in the present study was comparable with the other studies using the same technique [18-20]. This observation confirmed that ITS1/ITS4 primers are not fungi specific [52,53]. However, in some cases, heterologous DNA from the plant material did not interfere with PCR amplification [54-56]. Glen et al.[57] tested six primers pairs (targeting three nuclear and three mitochondrial regions) for specificity, sensitivity and species discrimination on identified collections of fungi. Two sets of these primers, one newly designed and targeting the ITS region and the other amplifying a ribosomal DNA fragment of the large mitochondrial subunit met the requirements of high specificity and sensitivity, amplifying DNA from a broad range of the larger basidiomycetes, with no amplification of plant, bacterial or ascomycete DNA. These specific primers discriminated fungi to species level for 91 fungal species from 28 families and are a potential practical PCR-RFLP tool for identifying basidiomycetes in plants from field samples. The little variation observed in the studied filamentous fungi may however be explained by REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 3 Smith, J.E., R.S. Henderson and G.W. Solomon, 1994. Mycotoxins in human nutrition and health. 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