Journal of Phytopathology (2013) 161, 271-279

Bilal Ahmad Padder, Tariq Ahmad Sofi, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mehraj-Ul-Din Shah, Aflaq Hamid, Sehar Saleem and Farooq Ahmad Ahanger (2013)
Virulence and molecular diversity of Venturia inaequalis in commercial apple growing regions in Kashmir
Journal of Phytopathology 161 (4), 271-279
Abstract: Seventy-one isolates of Venturia inaequalis collected from commercial apple growing areas of Kashmir were characterized on international differential apple hosts and analyzed by Random Amplified Polymorphic Microsatellites (RAMS), PCR-RFLP and sequencing of rDNA for elucidation of variability. Virulence analysis on a differential set categorized them into four pathogenic races, viz. (0), (1), (2) and (1,2) in the first time comprehensive molecular analysis of this in India and especially from Jammu and Kashmir, a north-western Himalayan state of India. Race groups (0), (1), (2) and (1,2) contained isolates from diverse areas without specificity to any geographical zone or region. Cluster analysis of the RAMS and PCR-RFLP revealed a high genotypic diversity within V. inaequalis isolates. Three major clusters were obtained and the isolates could not be categorized on the basis of either their geographical distribution or the cultivar from which they were isolated. amova analysis of pathogen populations at regional or race level revealed high diversity within the populations. Pairwise FST comparisons between the populations revealed less genetic differentiation, thereby indicating existence of frequent gene flow in Kashmir. The 24 rDNA sequences of V. inaequalis showed high haplotype diversity of 0.938 and 0.40 nucleotide diversity. Again clustering at regional or race level detected greater part of variability within groups than among groups, thereby indicating high diversity in V. inaequalis populations in Kashmir valley.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Bilal Ahmad Padder, Mushtaq Ahmad, Aflaq Hamid

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Venturia inaequalis	Apple (Malus)	India