Retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP) markers for genetic diversity assessment of the rice blast pathogen (Magnaporthe grisea)

This present study is the first report of the application of the retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP) technique in fungi. Genome fingerprinting has a major role in the characterization of population structure and in the analysis of the variability in fungi. Retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism assay was used in virulent isolates of a rice blast pathogen (Magnaporthe grisea) as a new assay system for genetic variability studies that overcomes the limitations of previous techniques. The high polymorphism observed in REMAP could be due to past or recent actions of retrotransposon in M. grisea. Retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism, with its superior marker utility, was concluded to be the marker of choice for characterizing M. grisea isolates.