Isoelectric focusing as an aid to the identification of Leptosphaeria narmari, A cause of spring dead spot in turf

SummaryIsoelectric focusing (IEF) was investigated as an aid to the identification of Leptosphaeria narmari, a fungus thought to be the main causal organism in New South Wales of the turf disease commonly referred to as spring dead spot. Cultures of this fungus do not fruit on agar media so positive identification of cultures by taxonomic features of pseudothecia is impossible.Extracts obtained from fungal colonies grown in nutrient broth were separated by IEF, pH range 4.0 – 6.5. The protein banding patterns detected by staining with Serva Blue clearly differentiated Leptosphaeria narmari, L. korrae and L. maculans. Sixteen isolates from turf with spring dead spot from New South Wales and South Australia were also compared by IEF. All isolates, except two, had a similar pattern of protein bands to an authentic isolate of L. narmari.