Development of a Real-Time Quantitative PCR Assay for the Specific Detection of and Its Application in the Study of Colonization Ability.

is a widely used biocontrol agent closely related to , and the two species cannot be distinguished by universal primers that are currently available. The study aimed to establish a rapid, specific detection approach for . Many unique gene sequences of were selected through whole genome sequence alignment of strains and were used to design a series of forward and reverse primers, which were then screened by PCR and qPCR using different samples as templates. The colonization ability of ZF2 in different soils and different soil environmental conditions was measured by qPCR and a 10-fold dilution plating assay. A specific primer pair targeting the sequence of the D3N19_RS13500 gene of ZF2 was screened and could successfully distinguish from . A rapid specific real-time qPCR detection system for was established. ZF2 had a very strong colonization ability in desert soil, and the optimal soil pH was 7-8. Moreover, the colonization ability of strain ZF2 was significantly enhanced when organic matter from different nitrogen sources was added to the substrate. This study will provide assistance for rapid specificity detection and biocontrol application of strains.