Polymorphisms of the ITS region of Inocutis jamaicensis associated with Eucalyptus globulus, Vitis vinifera and native plants in Uruguay
Pérez G., Lupo S., Bettucci L. (2008) Polymorphisms of the ITS region of Inocutis jamaicensis associated with Eucalyptus globulus, Vitis vinifera and native plants in Uruguay.
Sydowia 60 (2): 267–275
Eucalyptus globulus was introduced in Uruguay from Australia and planted on former prairie soils, sometimes nearby evergreen shrubs or small trees growing on low hills and riparian forests. Inocutis jamaicensis is associated with lesions of variable length and width on the stem of standing E. globulus trees and Vitis vinifera plants. The natural distribution of I. jamaicensis is restricted to North and South America where the fungus is colonising several native plants. Thus, it was hypothesised that the occurrence of this fungus on E. globulus and vines originated from a host jump from native plants. The aim of this work was to evaluate the genetic variation among I. jamaicensis isolates collected from E. globulus, V. vinifera and native plants in Uruguay and to detect possible host preferences of different isolates. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region was amplified by PCR and then digested with four endonucleases which allow to differentiate eight RFLP patterns. There were no significant differences in allelic frequencies among isolates collected from different hosts. There was no indication of host specificity, but a support of the hypothesis that basidiospores originating from basidiomata on native plants can colonize E. globulus, V. vinifera and vice versa.
Keywords: white rotting fungi, stem cankers, genetic variation. |