Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting of symbiotic fungi cultured by the fungus-growing ant Cyphomyrmex minutus.
A PCR-based fingerprinting technique based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) is used to screen symbiotic fungi of the fungus-growing ant Cyphomyrmex minutus for genetic differences. AFLP fingerprints reveal several fungal 'types' that (a) represent distinct clones propagated vegetatively by the ant, or (b) correspond to free-living fungi that may be acquired by the ant. Fungal types identified by AFLP fingerprints correspond to vegetative-compatibility groups established previously, suggesting that vegetative compatibility can be used as a crude indicator of genetic differences between fungi of C. minutus.
Mueller
U G
UG
Section of Neurobiology & Behaviour, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Lipari
S E
SE
Milgroom
M G
MG
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000382:microbiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013559:Symbiosis
D004271:DNA, Fungal