Molecular approaches to differentiate subpopulations or Formae specialis of phytopathogenic fungi

Biotechnologia Applicada 1996; Vol. 13, No.2. MH Perlin, C Hughes, J Welch, S Akkaraju, A Kumar, B Smith and T Andom Code Number: BA96044 Sizes of Files: Text: 6.0K Graphics: Line drawings (gif) - 5.3K Introduction Ustilago violacea (Microbotryum violaceum) is a heterobasidiomycete plant pathogen that infects over 200 species of Caryophyllaceae (Pinks). Circumstantial evidence has suggested that physiological races or formae specialis of U. violacea can be defined according to which host species are productively infected, as individual strains of the fungus tend to be only able to infect host species from which they are isolated and such host preference varies among different U. violacea isolates. Since development of the dikaryotic and spore forms of the fungus is obligately parasitic, the molecular bases for such "races" (if bona fide) and for their host preference are of interest...... Copyright 1996 Elfos Scientia