XVI International Botanical Congess

The XYL2 xylanase gene of the grass pathogen Cochliobolus sativus (anamorph Bipolaris sorokiniana) is similar to the XYL2 gene of C. carbonum. Part of this gene, including its two introns, can be amplified by PCR with primers corresponding to sequences conserved between the C. sativus and C. carbonum XYL2 genes and the C. carbonum XYL1 xylanase gene. PCR with these primers also amplifies C. sativus DNA similar to the C. carbonum XYL1 gene, containing one intron, XYL1- and XYL2-like sequences from Bipolaris sorghicola, and DNA of diverse other ascomycetes. All the products correspond to likely genes for xylanases in glycosyl hydrolase family 11. All contain one intron, except those from the Cochliobolus (Bipolaris) XYL2 genes, which remain the only known family 11 xylanase genes with two introns.