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ABSTRACT
Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to study the immunological relationships among strains in the Morchella esculenta complex. Two strains of M. semilibera were chosen as outgroups for comparison. Mycelial extracts were used as antigens to induce antisera production in rabbits. The range of titers from ELISA were 1: 128 to 1: 2048. Serologic data from ELISA were analyzed based on the Titer and the Best-fit Line methods. Cross-reactivity at a specific titer did not differentiate the species. Dendrograms, however, based on the Best-fit Line method had all strains of the M. esculenta complex cluster together and sort out separately from the M. semilibera strains. The Prager and Wilson F values for the Titer method trees (UPGMA = 10.74, Fitch-Margoliash = 17.89) were higher than those for the Best-fit Line method trees (UPGMA = 5.93, Fitch-Margoliash = 11.81) within each analysis indicating the trees from the Best-fit Line method were more parsimonious. No significant differences were found between UPGMA and the Fitch and Margoliash method in terms of tree topology. Phylogenetic trees have not been commonly used with ELISA data. Combining the highly specific and sensitive ELISA with numerical taxonomic and phylogenetic techniques can provide additional systematic insights. The results of this study indicate that the gray, tan and large tan forms in the M. esculenta complex are immunologically indistinguishable and likely conspecific.
