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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Frederick, Maryland » Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145565

Title: ANALYSIS OF CLAVICEPS AFRICANA AND C. SORGHI FROM INDIA USING AFLPS, EF-1ALPHA GENE INTRON 4, AND BETA-TUBULIN GENE INTRON 3

Author
item Tooley, Paul
item BANDYOPADHYAY, R - IITA, NIGERIA PL PATHGST
item Carras, Marie

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2005
Publication Date: 3/24/2006
Citation: Tooley, P.W., Bandyopadhyay, R., Carras, M.M. 2006. Analysis of claviceps africana and c. sorghi from india using aflps, ef-1alpha gene intron 4, and beta-tubulin gene intron 3. Mycological Research. 110:441-451.

Interpretive Summary: We analyzed ninety strains of the sorghum ergot pathogen from India and confirmed that two different fungal species were present in the Indian pathogen population. Five of the strains were the species Claviceps sorghi and 85 were Claviceps africana. Using DNA markers, we determined that the two species seem to exist separately, with no apparent interbreeding. Interbreeding, if it occurs, could result in intermediate types and/or strains with increased pathogenicity or ability to attack more host plant species. We also determined the relationship of the two species to one another, and to other species in the genus Claviceps. Our results shed light on the nature of genetic interactions of populations of Claviceps species in a country with a long history of ergot epidemics limiting production of sorghum

Technical Abstract: Isolates of Claviceps causing ergot on sorghum in India were analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, and by analysis of DNA sequences of the EF-1 alpha gene intron 4 and the beta-tubulin gene intron 3 region. Of ninety isolates assayed from six states in India, five isolates were determined to be C. sorghi, and the rest were C. africana. Low to moderate levels of genetic diversity were observed within the C. africana population. These findings confirm that C. africana has displaced C. sorghi in India. Sequence analysis of C. sorghi showed that phylogenetically, it grouped most closely with C. gigantea and C. africana.