MALDI-TOF MS as a method for rapid identification of de Bary, 1876.

The number of described species of the oomycete genus is growing rapidly, highlighting the need for low-cost, rapid tools for species identification. Here, a collection of 24 species (42 samples) from natural as well as anthropogenic habitats were genetically identified using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) regions. Because genetic identification is time consuming, we have created a complementary method based on by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).