Analysis of genetic diversity among Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. isolates from Euro-Asian countries

Abstract

The study assessed the genetic variability among Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. isolates originating from six different countries (Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Ukraine and Serbia), collected mostly from sunflower, but also maize, soybean, flax, common bean and zebra plant. RAPD analysis was based on 154 polymorphic bands obtained with 14 OPA primers. RAPD markers OPA-02-OPA-05, OPA-07-OPA-13 and OPA-18-OPA-20 were found to be suitable for measuring the genetic relatedness and detecting variability in M. phaseolina populations. Cluster analysis revealed high genetic diversity of M. phaseolina isolates within the same country of origin, but clear differentiation according to the isolates' host plant and geographical origin was not observed. Contingency analysis and corrected contingency coefficients enabled determination of RAPD markers associated with geographical origin of isolates, as well as markers specific for non-sunflower isolates. Marker OPA 10_1750 was found to be highly specific for the isolates from Turkey, while two markers, OPA 3_1250 and OPA 9_800, could be used for differentiation of isolates originating from sunflower from isolates originating from other host plants.