Genetic Analysis of a Single Urediniospore Culture of Cronartium Quercuum F. Sp. Fusiforme, Using Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna Markers

Microsatellite DNA suggests regional structure in the fusiform rust fungus Cronartium quercuum f. sp fusiforme

This paper reports results obtained from microsatellite DNA analysis of genetic structure for populations of the native fungus Cronartium quercuum f. sp fusiforme infecting loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) over much of this host's natural range. Mostly all fusiform rust galls formed under field conditions are produced as a result of infection and colonization by haploid mycelium originating from a single basidiospore of C. quercuum fusiforme. If multiple infections do occur, then only a single haplotype must ultimately dominate and be responsible for gall formation. High levels of microsatellite variability exist in C. quercuum fusiforme and most of this variation occurs within local populations (average 88.4%). A statistically significant proportion, however, is found among populations, and the magnitude of this differentiation is closely associated with geographic distance between populations. Unweighted pair-group mean analysis and principal components analysis both indicate that at least four genetically distinct regional groups of C. quercuum fusiforme exist in the south Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. In summary, the distribution of genetic variability in C. quercuum fusiforme is consistent with a hypothesis of at least four metapopulations with gene flow occurring less among regions than among populations within regions, and where overall levels of gene migration are related to geographic distance between populations.

Prescreening Slash Pine and Cronartium Pedigrees for Evaluation of Complementary Gene Action in Fusiform Rust Disease

Single-urediniospore cultures of the fusiform rust fungus were used to inoculate seedlings from 10 full-sib families of a five-parent slash pine diallel at two different times in 1994. The presence or absence of fusiform rust galls was recorded for each inoculated seedling at 9 months postinoculation, and percent infection levels for each family-inoculum-time combination were used for detecting differences among host families and fungal cultures and for identifying differential interactions. The existence of differential interactions between two or more fungal cultures and two or more host families verifies that complementary gene action does exist in this pathosystem. Some host families may be excluded from more detailed interaction studies on the basis of their redundancy and lack of participation in differential interactions.

Ultrastructure of spermatia and spermatium ontogeny in the rust fungus Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme

Spermogonia of Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme developed just beneath the bark on galled regions of infected pine seedlings. Spermogonia consist of flattened, spreading, island-like masses of fungal tissue covered with a thin layer of liquid containing large numbers of spermatia. Spermatia arose in an annellophoric fashion from the tips of long, slender sporogenous cells produced in a distinct layer. Each sporogenous cell contained a large prominent nucleus that underwent mitosis as each spermatium initial developed. One of the resulting nuclei moved into the initial while the other remained in the sporogenous cell. Once a spermatium was delimited, it was pushed away from the tip of the sporogenous cell as another spermatium initial developed below it. Once delimited, a spermatium underwent specific morphological changes as it matured. A mature spermatium was subpyriform in shape and surrounded by a thin wall. In addition to a single large nucleus each spermatium contained ribosomes, mitochondria, lipid bodies, strands of endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole-like inclusions, and many small vesicles that packed its base. Keywords: transmission electron microscopy, pycnidia, pycnidiospores, spermogonia.

Variation in mating competence and random amplified polymorphic DNA inLaccaria bicolor(Agaricales) associated with three tree host species

We examined the population genetic structure of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton using single spore homokaryotic cultures from 33 basidiomes collected in northern Minnesota in association with red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) of three age-classes (0–20 years, 21–40 years, and > 41 years). Mating competence between cultures of isolates, as determined by the presence of clamp connections, revealed the presence of two subpopulations that were not freely interbreeding, one composed of 29 dikaryons, the other of 3 dikaryons. Phenetic cluster analysis using random amplified polymorphic DNA markers did not reveal differentiation between these subpopulations. Clustering failed to reveal genetically distinct groups based on incompatibility group, tree host species, or geographic origin of isolates. Key words: heterogenic incompatibility, RAPD, population genetics.

Genetic diversity in Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme on loblolly pines in southern U.S

Twelve random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to study genetic variability in three populations of Cronartium quercuum f.sp.fusiforme, the causal agent of fusiform rust on pines. Most of the variability (94%) was found within populations while 6% of the total variability was attributable to frequency differences between populations. The frequency of three markers was significantly different between regions of origin on an east-west transect. Three markers were completely absent from one of the populations while present in the others, and one marker was fixed in the western population but polymorphic in the eastern and central populations. However, no significant differences were observed when the western population was omitted from the analysis. The results suggest that C. quercuum f.sp.fusiforme is a highly heterogeneous pathogen with little geographic differentiation and underscores the importance of considering the populations structure of the pathogen in resistance breeding programs.

A partial genetic linkage map of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) based on random amplified polymorphic DNAs

A set of 420 random, 10-base, oligonucleotide primers was screened for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments within a sample of eight megagametophyte DNAs of a single slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) tree. The apparently repeatable RAPD fragments were further characterized within a sample of 68 megagametophytes from the same tree. Fragments segregating in a 1∶1, present-to-absent, ratio were classified and mapped using multi-point linkage analysis. The analysis revealed 13 linkage groups of at least three loci, ranging in size from 28 to 68 cM, and nine linked pairs of loci. The 22 groups and pairs included 73 RAPD markers and covered a genetic map distance of approximately 782 cM. Genome size estimates, based on linkage data, ranged from 2880 to 3360 cM. Using a 30-cM map scale and including the 24 unlinked markers and the ends of the 13 linkage groups and nine linked pairs, the set of RAPD markers accounts for approximately 2160 cM or 64-75% of the genome. This extent of genomic coverage should allow for the efficient mapping of genes responsible for a reaction to the causal agent of fusiform rust disease, Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme.