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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213261
Title: Evidence for recombination and segregation of virulence to pine in a hybrid cross between Gibberella circinata and G subglutinans

Author
item FRIEL, C - UNIV. CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
item Desjardins, Anne
item KIRKPATRICK, S - UNIV. CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
item GORDON, T - UNIV. CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/2007
Publication Date: 5/27/2007
Citation: Friel, C.J., Desjardins, A.E., Kirkpatrick, S.C., Gordon, T.R. 2007. Evidence for recombination and segregation of virulence to pine in a hybrid cross between Gibberella circinata and G subglutinans. Mycological Research. 111(7):827-831.

Interpretive Summary: We developed a large number of Fusarium strains and supplied them to scientific collaborators at the University of California. DNA marker analysis of these strains showed an unexpectedly close genetic relationship between two Fusarium species--one that causes maize ear rot, and another that causes pitch canker of pine trees. These strains were used to study the genetic basis of the ability of Fusarium to cause pitch canker, which should be useful to plant pathologists and breeders who are trying to control this economically important disease of pine trees.

Technical Abstract: Two species associated with the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex, G. circinata (the cause of pitch canker in pines), and G. subglutinans (avirulent on pine), were found to have limited interfertility in hybrid crosses. MAT idiomorphs, polymorphisms in the histone H3 gene, vegetative compatibility, and virulence phenotypes were used to verify recombination. The MAT idiomorphs appeared to be assorting independently, but the histone H3 haplotype was disproportionately represented by that of the G. subglutinans parent. Ninety-eight percent (45/46) of the progeny tested were vegetatively incompatible with both parents. All F1 progeny were avirulent to pine, but a wide range of virulence was restored through a backcross to the virulent parent (G. circinata). Attempts at hybrid crosses using other isolate combinations were rarely successful (1/26). This limited interfertility supports retention of G. circinata and G. subglutinans as separate species, but offers opportunities to characterize the inheritance of virulence to pine.