VIEW ARTICLE

Physiology and Biochemistry

Genetic Variation in Polypeptide Maps of Two Globodera rostochiensis Pathotypes. J. Bakker, Department of Nematology, Agricultural University, Binnenhaven 10, Wageningen, The Netherlands; L. Bouwman-Smits, Department of Nematology, Agricultural University, Binnenhaven 10, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Phytopathology 78:894-900. Accepted for publication 19 January 1988. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-78-894.

The protein composition of females of Globodera rostochiensis was analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) followed by a sensitive silver stain. Standardization of the protein extraction from young females resulted in reproducible protein profiles, which were independent of host genotypes. Protein patterns of nematodes reared on potato and tomato were indistinguishable. Isoelectric focusing within the pH range 5–7 and nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis of basic proteins followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis resolved approximately 720 protein spots per population. Comparison of two G. rostochiensis populations, classified as pathotype Ro₁ and Ro₅, revealed 680 invariant and 39 variant protein spots. Twenty-three variants seemed to be the result of amino acid substitutions that altered net charge and involved 11 putative loci. The underlying mechanisms of the remaining 16 variants were unclear.