PCR-based sensitive detection of medicinal fungi Hericium species from ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences.

Based on phylogenetic analysis of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, a pair of specific primers were designed for differentiating the Chinese traditional medicine Hericium species from other mushrooms by PCR. PCR was performed, with total DNAs as a template at an annealing temperature of 52-57 degrees C. Positive amplification was obtained from H. erinaceus with all DNA templates from different resources, but not from other related species. The result indicated that H. erinaceus could be clearly distinguished from other fungi by detection PCR, and no incorrect discrimination was found under the same reaction conditions. The primers were also successfully employed to identify H. erinaceus with different tissue types.