Intra-specific diversity of Aureobasidium pullulans strains isolated from rocks and other habitats assessed by physiological methods and by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

Intra-specific diversity of Aureobasidium pullulans strains isolated from environmental sources and from stones was studied by assessment of morphological, biochemical and physiological characters as well as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using microsatellite or minisatellite DNA primers (GTG)5, (GACA)4, M13. The results showed that both classical and molecular techniques evidenced a phenotypic and genetic diversity of analysed A. pullulans strains. A different behaviour was observed in reference to the growth responses with D-glucosamine, citrate, galactitol and with different salt concentrations and range of growth temperature. Molecular analysis partially confirmed the data obtained with biochemical and physiological tests, additionally showing common fragments in all strains, to be used for a possible application as 'in situ' probes and for a rapid identification of A. pullulans strains.