Detection and quantification of Serpula himantioides in the wood of Chamaecyparis pisifera butt rot trees

This study aimed to validate the molecular assay methodology for the absolute quantification of Serpula himantioides in the wood of butt rot trees of Chamaecyparis pisifera by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The specificity of the designed primer set was tested by end-point PCR and amplicon sequencing. End-point PCR assays were positive for S. himantioides and negative for S. lacrymans of the same genus as S. himantioides, Coniophora puteana of the same family as S. himantioides, and other wood-rotting fungi. Taxonomy assignment based on amplicon sequencing detected only Serpula spp., and most of them were identified as S. himantioides.