Preparation of genomic DNA for RAPD analysis from thick-walled dormant teliospores of Tilletia species.

We describe a method for isolating genomic DNA from teliospores of Tilletia caries (DC) Tul., T. controversa Kuhn and T. foetida (T. laevis) (Wallr.) Liro. for random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. DNA analysis of teliospores of covered smut or bunt has been difficult because of the thick wall and the high lipid content of the spores. This method overcomes these problems and yields sufficient quantities of DNA from the three species' teliospores for RAPDs. DNA quality appears to be good with very little degradation. RAPD amplifications of the extracted DNAs are reproducible and produce numerous large molecular weight bands from each individual. This procedure should permit the use of DNA analysis techniques to study species and races of Tilletia as well as fungi with similar spore structure.