Intraspecific genetic variability of isozymes in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus tomentosus

Abstract

Mycelial extracts of 43 isolates of Suillus tomentosus (Kauffm.) Singer, Snell & Dick collected from four boreal forest regions in Alberta were subjected to starch gel electrophoresis. A total of 21 bands was resolved from eight different enzyme systems presumably representing 13 loci. Six loci were polymorphic among these isolates. Cluster and principal components analyses demonstrated that intraspecific genetic variability of this fungus existed among and within forest regions. Polymorphic loci of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase exhibited the greatest genetic similarity among the isolates within forest regions. Habitat isolation and host selection could be the major sources of genetic variation among forest regions.