Annals of Microbiology (2006) 56, 215-221

Maddalena Moretti, George Karaoglanidis, Marco Saracchi, Anna Fontana and Gandolfina Farina (2006)
Analysis of genotypic diversity in Cercospora beticola Sacc. field isolates
Annals of Microbiology 56 (3), 215-221
Abstract: Genetic variability and population structure of Cercospora beticola, the causal agent of Cercospora leaf spot in sugarbeet, from four sugarbeet-growing regions of Greece were investigated using growth rate, pathogenicity, and mini- and microsatellite DNA fingerprinting. Mycelial growth and pathogenicity were very diverse within and between groups, and no correlation was found between these features and the geographic origin of the isolates. High diversity was found by micro- and minisatellite fingerprinting, with an average gene diversity of 0.21, and no significant differences among populations. Among the 46 isolates, 45 different genotypes were identified, showing a high degree of genotype diversity. Analysis of the genetic profiles provided no evidence for regional patterns of variation (Phi-FST =0.01, P = 0.261) and the analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) revealed that genetic variability was due mainly to variations within (99%) rather than between (1%) populations. Such a low level of genetic differentiation is reflected by a migration rate value Nm of 4.7. The high migration rate cannot be referred to splash dispersed conidia. To justify the absence of a regional structure in these C. beticola populations, we must suppose the existence of a long-distance means of dispersal, such as seed transmission and/or man mediated transmission.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Maddalena Moretti, Marco Saracchi, George S. Karaoglanidis

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cercospora beticola	Beet/sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)	Greece