Development and use of SSR markers for genetic population structure analysis of Pisolithus

Pisolithus is an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal genus that exists in native and plantation forests worldwide. Despite many aspects of the genus having been studied over the years, there is limited knowledge of the genetic population structure of Pisolithus spp. The major aim of this study was to begin to elucidate the genetic structure of populations of Pisolithus native to the eastern states of Australia. Initially, the number of species represented in the University of Western Sydney Pisolithus culture collection was investigated using ITS-RFLP and previously developed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. From these analyses, two clear groupings emerged with the RFLP groups corresponding to the SSR groups identified. To study genetic population structure, appropriate markers were required and SSR markers were considered to be most suited to this end. The developed SSR markers were successfully used to amplify P. microcarpus and P. albus DNA from ECM root tips and soil samples. Therefore, these markers will be a useful tool for future investigations into the population structure of above and below-ground structures of P. microcarpus and P. albus populations