Genetic variation of Alternaria alternata, an endophytic fungus isolated from Pinus tabulaeformis as determined by random amplified microsatelites (RAMS)

Genetic variation of 112 isolates of Alternaria alternata, an endophytic fungus isolated from Pinus tabulaeformis, was carried out using two RAMS primers (CCA and CGA). All 1273 bands produced were clear and reproducible and ranged from 200 to 2000 base pairs. Analysis of the two primers revealed a high level of genetic diversity (H’ = 2.79) among the 112 isolates tested. A total of 20 markers were scored. Two markers were present in all isolates, while the other 18 (90%) markers occurred in combinations of 105 (93.8%) different genotypes among the 112 isolates. Genetic similarity coefficients between pairwise isolates varied from 0.3 to 1 based on an unweighted paired group method of arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analysis. There was no relationship between fungal genotypes and host tissue ages, and the endophytic fungus A. alternata appears to have the potential to evolve relatively quickly and maintain significant genetic variation.link_to_OA_fulltex