Fungal PCR primers
Fungal SSU rDNA primer list.
Primer ListPCR primer development
We've been developing PCR primers specific for the fungal components of symbioses. The first set was used to isolate and sequence fungal DNA from cultured fungi and field-collected lichen specimens. Although one set of primers was designed to not amplify green algal DNA, they do amplify fungal and animal SSU rDNA (and algal too, given less stringent conditions). Gargas & Taylor 1992.
download PDF (940 kb).
A nomenclature for fungal PCR primers
As more primers were designed the primer nomenclature became a bit problematic. In collaboration with P. T. DePriest I developed a system to name SSU rDNA primers relative to their locations within the gene. Gargas & DePriest. 1996. download PDF (1.4 MB).
This publication also includes some of our strategies for amplifying rDNA containing group I introns.
Insertions, Introns and PCR primers
The presence of group I introns or insertions in ribosomal DNA can lead to longer than expected PCR fragments, multiple PCR fragments, or even failure of PCR reactions. For more information see Gargas & DePriest. 1996. download PDF (1.4 MB).