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Title: Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Douglas-fir pathogen Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, causal agent of Swiss Needle Cast disease

Author
item Winton, Loretta
item STONE, JEFFREY - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item HANSEN, EVERETT - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Molecular Ecology Notes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2007
Publication Date: 11/20/2007
Citation: Winton, L.M., Stone, J.K., Hansen, E.M. 2007. Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Douglas-fir pathogen Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, causal agent of Swiss Needle Cast disease. Molecular Ecology Notes. 7(6):1125-1128.

Interpretive Summary: Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii is a fungus that causes the defoliating disease Swiss Needle Cast of Douglas-fir. A severe epidemic of Swiss needle cast is currently underway along theOregon coast and disease severity is associated with abnormally high levels of P. gaeumannii. We have developed ten genetic markers from the DNA of P. gaeumannii. These highly variable markers will allow studies to determine whether increased abundance of the pathogen in Oregonis correlated with its genetics and to evaluate whether increased amounts of sexual recombination are contributing to the problem. The availability of these markers will be of immediate use to scientists conducting population studies on P. gaeumannii. Such studies may eventually suggest management strategies to control existing populations and preventative measures to limit colonization of new areas.

Technical Abstract: We describe specific primers and conditions to amplify ten di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci isolated from Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, causal agent of the Douglas-fir defoliating disease Swiss Needle Cast. The primer sets were tested on 40 individuals from a worldwide collection of isolates that had previously been characterized with more conservative single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) markers at coding genes. The microsatellite data segregated fungal isolates into groups identical to the three non-recombining lineages previously recovered. In addition, microsatellite genotypic diversity was high (D > 0.93) within both SSCP genotypes and lineages.