Microbial Ecology (2006) 52, 463-469

Susan D. Cohen (2006)
Host selectivity and genetic variation of Discula umbrinella isolates from two oak species: Analyses of intergenic spacer region sequences of ribosomal DNA
Microbial Ecology 52 (3), 463-469
Abstract: Discula umbrinella, a fungal endophyte of oak species, colonizes and reproduces on leaves of Quercus alba and Q. rubra in forest ecosystems. Twenty-nine isolates collected from leaves of both oak species (16 from Q. alba and 13 from Q. rubra) were assayed for oak species preference and genetic variation based on primer-specific polymerase chain reactions for the intergenic spacer region (IGS) of ribosomal DNA. DNA sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products revealed a 10-bp insertion (237-247 bp) at the 3' end of the IGS region present in nine isolates and absent in 20 of the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the IGS region using the neighbor-joining method identified IGS groups (groups I-V) based on single nucleotide sequence differences. Host selectivity and geographic origin of isolates were correlated in some instances with the IGS groups. Isolates within each IGS group were further analyzed for nucleotide polymorphisms to confirm genotype identity and genotype diversity. Ten different genotypes (V_a-V_j) were identified among the isolates analyzed. Genotype diversity was greatest in IGS groups I, IV, and V. Seventy percent of the genotypes (V_c, V_d, V_e, V_f, V_g,V_i, and V_j) contained isolates with single tree species preferences.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Susan D. Cohen

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.
	Apiognomonia errabunda	Oak (Quercus)