Random amplified microsatellites (RAMS) — a novel method for characterizing genetic variation within fungi

Summary A novel method, Random Amplified Microsatellites (RAMS, due to the nature of amplified markers as two randomly amplified microsatellites with the intervening sequence), was applied to generate DNA markers in a variety of fungi ( Armillaria cepistipes, Gremmeniella abietina, Heterobasidion annosum, Pbytophthora cactorum, Phlebiopsis gigantea , and Stereum sanguinolentum ). It is based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and uses primers containing microsatellite sequences and degenerate anchors at the 5' end. The method is highly reproducible, applicable to all tested fungal species including members of the Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, and allows detection of interspecific and intraspecific DNA‐polymorphisms.