Phylogenetic Relationship of Venturia carpophila, the Causal Agent of Almond Scab from Kashmir Valley as Inferred by ITS nr DNA

The fungus Venturia carpophila causes scab in almond.In order to gain insight, an in vitro culture of the fungus has been established and its identity confirmed by its nr DNA.Internal transcribed spacer-ribosomal DNA (ITS-rDNA); the fungal molecular marker was used for molecular analysis.The target region of rDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) of this species was amplified using universal fungal primers (ITS1 and ITS4).The sequencing of amplified products and their subsequent Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis confirmed the identification of species by comparing the sequence of the species with respective species sequences present in Gen Bank.Phylogenetic analysis also confirmed the identification of fungi belongs to Venturiaceae family having 100% similarity to other V. carpophila species.