Split-Marker Recombination for Efficient Targeted Deletion of Fungal Genes

A commonly used method for fungal gene deletion is introduction of linear DNA consisting of a selectable marker gene flanked on both sides by short stretches of DNA that target a gene of interest (Wirsel et al 1996 Curr.Genet 29:241-249).Gene deletion in Cochliobolus heterostrophus and Gibberella zeae occurs efficiently with this approach.To facilitate deletion construct synthesis, we have applied the "split-marker" deletion strategy previously developed for Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Fairhead et al. 1996