Comparison of ITS-PCR-RFLP and MALDI-TOF MS Methods for the Identification of Wood-Decaying Fungi of the Genus Ganoderma

Abstract

The traditional identification of the species of the genus Ganoderma (Basidiomycota phylum, Polyporales order) is based on its anatomical and morphological characteristics of basidiocarps. In recent years, molecular methods based on the analysis of the DNA are widely used. In this study, ability of newly applied method MALDI-TOF MS and known ITS-PCR-RFLP have been compared for the identification of fungi of the genus Ganoderma. The samples of seven members of the genus have been determined based on its anatomical and morphological traits and four species have been identified. Restriction analysis also showed the presence of four species of the genus. MALDI-TOF MS analysis yielded well defined spectra for all species tested. The cluster analysis has been carried out from the spectra obtained. The results have shown that MALDI-TOF MS is capable to distinguish among studied fungi with an accuracy comparable to ITS-PCR-RFLP and could be used for identification of fungi of the genus Ganoderma.