Genetic diversity of Macrophomina phaseolina isolates from different regions and host plants

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a soil borne pathogen with a wide host range which causes disease on more than 500 cultivated and wild plant species. The absence of host specificity and its geographic distribution suggest that the pathogen is heterogeneous. Current research was undertaken to elucidate the genetic diversity of M. phaseolina isolates obtained from different hosts and geographical locations. Seventeen M. phaseolina isolates were analysed for their genetic polymorphisms by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). M. phaseolina isolates were collected from nine locations in Serbia, two locations in Bulgaria and one location in Turkey. Tested isolates were mainly recovered from sunflower, but also maize, soybean and flax