title: Molecular characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis using rep-PCR.
abstract: The genetic divergence of 65 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was determined using Rep-PCR. Based on the repetitive sequences the BOX primer was the most informative with 26 fragments, followed by ERIC (19) and REP (10), generating a total of 55 fragments. The dendogram shows that ten groups were formed when 45% was the average distance of the population: group 1 with 41,5% of the isolates, 33,8% of the isolates were distributed in other groups and 24,6% did not formed distinct group. 53,2% of the isolates from Embrapa are in the group 1, and 29,8% of the isolates are distributed in other groups. Bt strains from USDA and Institute Pasteur showed more variability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biotechnology, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosane Bezerra
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological control, Embrapa Maize and Sorghum research, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Hercos
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Valicente
keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis; Genetic divergence; REP-PCR; Repetitive sequences