Genetic diversity in Puccinia striiformis Westend. f.sp. tritici revealed by pathogen genome-specific repetitive sequence

Abstract

DNA fingerprinting was used to examine genetic variation in populations of Puccinia striiformis Westend. f.sp. tritici, an obligate fungus that causes wheat stripe rust, using as a probe a moderately repetitive DNA sequence PSR331 that shows species specificity in the genome of this pathogen. One hundred and sixty isolates sampled from six provinces throughout China were examined for genetic variation over 26 putative genetic loci defined by PSR331 and the restriction enzyme BglII. Because of the dikaryotic nature of this fungus, DNA fingerprints can not differentiate heterozygotes from homozygotes. We refer to the PSR DNA fingerprints as phenotypes rather than genotypes. Phenotypic diversity analysis revealed a high level of genetic variation. A total of 97 phenotypes was detected among 160 isolates. Phenotypic diversity varied among regions, ranging from 0.3742 in Shaanxi to 0.9380 in Gansu, as calculated with the normalized Shannon's index. Genetic subdivision analysis revealed a low level of genetic differentiation (GST = 0.0084) among regions (Gansu, Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces) as well as within regions (Gansu and Sichuan provinces). This, together with the detection of the same phenotypes among regions, provided the molecular evidence for gene flow in P. striiformis f.sp. tritici. The results support conclusions from virulence surveys that Tianshui of southern Gansu is probably the most important "hotspot" area with respect to the potential to generate and maintain virulence variation. DNA polymorphism analysis also detected potential hotspot areas in addition to southern Gansu. This may result in more difficulties in management of genetic variation and thus the potential virulence variation in P. striiformis f.sp. tritici as well as providing opportunities for searching disease resistance factors.Key words: genetic diversity, Puccinia striiformis, DNA fingerprinting, virulence variation.