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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #425284
Research Project: Integration of Traditional Methods and Novel Molecular Strategies for Improving Disease Resistance and Input-use Efficiency in Peanut

Location: National Peanut Research Laboratory

Title: Estimating mating-type frequencies and genetic diversity of passalora arachidicola and nothopassalora personata

Author
item ROBERSON, GRACIE - Valdosta State University
item CANTONWINE, EMILY - Valdosta State University
item Arias De Ares, Renee
item GREMILLION, SARA - Georgia Southern University
item CULBRETH, ALBERT - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only

Technical Abstract: Two of the most devastating peanut foliar pathogens are Passalora arachidicola, which causes early leaf spot, and Nothopassalora personata, the causal agente of late leaf spot. Recent studies have characterized the genomes of these pathogens; however, little is known about the MAT1 genes associated with mating and the genetic diversity in field populations. For most ascomycete fungi, the MAT1 locus consists of two idiomorphs, MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. Genetic diversity is increased with the presence of sexual reproduction, which can be assumed if each mating type idiomorph is found in roughly equal frequencies. This study uses mating type primers developed based on available genome sequences for P. arachidicola and N. personata to determine mating type frequencies from field populations in Tifton, Georgia through multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR). From Forty 40 isolates for of each species were isolated from fresh diseased tissue and grown in axenic culture. ,PCR results indicated that 100% of P. arachidicola isolates amplified contained MAT1-2 gene. For N. personata however, 37.5% amplified MAT1-1 and 62.5% amplified MAT1-2. Short sequence repeats (SSRs) were found for N. personata and primers were developed that work for each species to measure the genetic diversity within the population. By developing these microsatellite primers, we wereare able to compare not only the genetic diversity within the population for each species but also compare how genetic diversity is affected by the possible presence of sexual reproduction within the N. personata population.