Optimization of the AFLP-fingerprinting method for a molecular-genetic certification of agricultural microorganisms

The study involved 16 strains of the Russian collection of agricultural microorganisms (RCAM) related to the genera Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Rhizobium, and Bradyrhizobium. The aim of the work was to develop a procedure of the genotypic certification of strains with AFLP-fingerprinting (amplified fragment length polymorphism), providing detection of nucleotide polymorphisms and small rearrangements. As a result the protocol of AFLP-fingerprinting, ranging from the isolation of DNA from microbial cells and ending with computer data processing is developed. It is shown that the method of AFLP-fingerprinting has a high specificity, resolution and reproducibility of results. This method can be used to obtain individual genetic passports of microorganisms deposited in the RCAM, in order to protect the copyright of the commercial strains.