Differences in molecular characteristics between Cronartium quercuum from Japan and fusiform rust from USA

Abstract

The molecular characteristics were compared among Cronartium quercuum f. sp. densiflorae and C. quercuum f. sp. thunbergii from Japan and C. quercuum f. sp. fusiforme, fusiform rust from the USA. The authors examined the PCR-amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of six collections (RFLP) analysis and nucleotide sequences. The ITS regions of six collections from Pinus densiflora and four collections from P. thunbergii from Japan and five collections from the native American hosts P. taeda or P. elliotti were amplified by PCR. The RFLP patterns with the three enzymes Dra I, Hinf I, and Taq I showed clear differences between the two Japanese formae speciales and the American C. quercuum f. sp. fusiforme. No differences were found in the RFLP patterns between ff. spp. densiflorae and thunbrgii. Nucleotide sequences of the ITS2 region confirmed the distinction between ff. sp. densiflorae and fusiforme. Comparisons with sequence data obtained from GenBank database on the other formae speciales in C. quercuum also confirmed the distinctiveness of f. sp. densiflorae. These molecular data supported the morphological differences reported earlier between the Asian and American forms in the C. quercuum complex.

Citation

Nakamura, Hitoshi; Kaneko, Shigeru; Spaine, Pauline. 1998. Differences in molecular characteristics between Cronartium quercuum from Japan and fusiform rust from USA. Proceedings of the first IUFRO [International Union of Forestry Research Organizations] rusts of forest trees working party conference; 1998 August 2-7; Saariselka, Finland. Research Papers 712. Metla, Finland: Finnish Forest Research Institute: 235-241.