ARS | Publication request: Molecular ecology of Sardinian fusaria

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 2, 2008
Publication Date: September 2, 2008
Citation: Balmas, V., Migheli, Q., Garau, P., Kang, S., Geiser, D.M., O Donnell, K. 2008. Molecular ecology of Sardinian fusaria. Meeting Abstract.

Technical Abstract: Mediterranean islands such as Sardinia are well known for their diversity of vascular plants and high floristic endemism. We hypothesized that saprobic soil fusaria might exhibit distinct genetic structures based on environmental contexts of their origins. To test this hypothesis, we measured the species and haplotype diversity of 313 fusaria cultured from soil obtained from ten diverse field sites across Sardinia. Information collected from these sites included global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, soil type, average yearly precipitation and land-use-type. Genetic diversity was assessed using sequences of partial translation elongation factor (EF-1a) and the second largest RNA polymerase subunit (RPB2) gene. In addition, 2-locus haplotypes (EF-1a + IGS rDNA) were assigned to members of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC). Similarly, 3-locus haplotypes (EF-1a + RPB2 + ITS-LSU rDNA) were assigned to members of the F. solani species complex. Spatial distribution of individual genotypes and association between genotypes and geospatial and environmental contexts of sampling sites were investigated. All data from this study will be available for visualization via the geovisualization function within the next web-accessible version of Fusarium-ID.