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Title: GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORIUM F. SP. ERYTHROXYLI.

Author
item ELIAS, KAROL - NORTH CAROLINA STATE
item Nelson, Amy
item AREVALO, E - UNIVERSITY PERU

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli, the causal agent of Fusarium Wilt of coca, is known to occur in several geographically diverse locations where coca is or has been grown. This pathogen is presently causing an epidemic in Peru, but, due to its recent discovery, little has been done to physiologically or genetically characterize the pathogen population. In the current study, more than 200 isolates of F.o.f.sp. erythroxyli were collected from diseased plants from five locations in each of 10 coca-growing regions of Peru and from Hawaii where coca was previously grown as an agronomic crop. All isolates were single- spored and tested for pathogenicity on coca in greenhouse root- dip assays. In order to examine population diversity, all isolates were assigned to vegetative compatibility groups using complementary nitrate-nitrogen metabolism mutants that had been selected on a rose bengal amended chlorate medium. The genetic diversity and community structure of pathogenic populations of F.o.f.sp. erythroxyli in Peru and relationships to F.o.f.sp. erythroxyli populations endemic to Hawaii will be discussed.