Enhancement of teliospore germination in wheat- and wild grass-infecting species of tilletia on activated charcoal medium

ABSTRACT The effect of activated charcoal as an amendment to water agar medium on teliospore germination was analyzed for two species of wheat-infecting bunts, Tilletia controversa and T. tritici, and two related wild-grass infecting species, T. bromi and T. fusca. Final percentages of teliospore germination, area under the germination progress curves (AUGPC), and a standardized AUGPC (SAUGPC) on carbon agar and water agar were compared among strains. Carbon agar (CA) significantly increased the final germination percentage of teliospores, AUGPC, and SAUGPC when compared with water agar (WA) for all taxa under study. Additionally, CA reduced significantly the incubation (i.e., lag) period when compared with WA for teliospores of T. bromi, T. controversa, and T. fusca. Bovine serum albumin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone were used as alternative chemical adsorbent amendments to WA to establish the role of activated charcoal in the medium. Only media amended with bovine serum albumin and activated charcoal improved the final germination percentage of all taxa. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone was not significantly better than water agar.     

Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Apiosporina morbosa Populations on Prunus spp

ABSTRACT Populations of Apiosporina morbosa collected from 15 geographic locations in Canada and the United States and three host species, Prunus virginiana, P. pensylvanica, and P. padus, were evaluated using the sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) technique to determine their genetic diversity and population differentiation. Extensive diversity was detected in the A. morbosa populations, including 134 isolates from Canada and the United States, regardless of the origin of the population. The number of polymorphic loci varied from 6.9 to 82.8% in the geographic populations, and from 41.4 to 79.3% in the populations from four host genotypes based on 58 polymorphic fragments. In all, 44 to 100% of isolates in the geographic populations and 43.6 to 76.2% in populations from four host genotypes represented unique genotypes. Values of heterozygosity (H) varied from 2.8 to 28.3% in the geographic populations and 10.2 to 26.1% in the populations from four host genotypes. In general, the A. morbosa populations sampled from wild chokecherry showed a higher genetic diversity than those populations collected from other host species, whereas the populations isolated from cultivated chokecherry, P. virginiana 'Shubert Select', showed a reduction of genetic diversity compared with populations from wild P. virginiana. Significant population differentiation was found among both the geographic populations (P < 0.05) and populations from different host genotypes (P < 0.02). In the geographic populations, most of populations from cultivated and wild P. virginiana were closely clustered, and no population differentiation was detected except for the populations from Morris, Morden, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Furthermore, the populations from P. virginiana in the same geographic locations had higher genetic identity and closer genetic distance to each other compared with those from different locations. Four populations from P. virginiana, P. pensylvanica, and P. padus, were significantly differentiated from each other (P < 0.02), except there was no differentiation between the Shubert Select and wild chokecherry populations (>P> = 0.334). Indirect estimation of gene flow showed that significant restricted gene flow existed between populations from different regions and host species. Gene flow rates (Nm) varied from <1 to 12.5, with higher gene flow rates among population pairs from the same host species (P = 1.000). The analysis of molecular variance revealed that a major genetic variance source came from the genetic variation among isolates within populations regardless of the origin and host genotype of the population. Although some locations had a limited number of isolates, the results of this study clearly showed that the genetic diversity and population differentiation of A. morbosa were closely associated with host genotypes and geographic locations, but mostly with the former.     

Analyses of RAPD data for detection of host specialization in Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

Upgma analysis, principal component analysis, genetic diversity analysis and genetic distance analysis of RAPD data were used to assess the extent of host specialization in 50 isolates of S. homoeocarpa from five turfgrass hosts. In upgma analysis and principal component analysis, the occurrence of host specialization was not readily apparent based on visual inspection. Genetic diversity analysis showed significant differentiation among isolates from different host species ( G _ST = 0.34, P  < 0.001). The strongest evidence for some degree of host specialization came from the statistical analysis of genetic distances among isolates. By grouping pairwise genetic distances between isolates based on their host species, and analysing for average distance within the same host species and among different host species, it was found that the average distance within species was less than among species ( P  < 0.0001). An analysis of molecular variance of the genetic distances among isolates found that 32.3% of the total variation was attributable to host species. It is concluded that these isolates of S. homoeocarpa showed a weak level of host specialization, which was not readily apparent by upgma or principal component analyses, but was revealed by genetic diversity analysis and statistical analysis of genetic distances among isolates. Inoculation tests on different host species and tests using a greater number of isolates are required to confirm the extent of specialization.     

High Genetic Similarity Among Populations of Phaeosphaeria nodorum Across Wheat Cultivars and Regions in Switzerland

ABSTRACT Phaeosphaeria nodorum was sampled from nine wheat fields across a 30-km transect representing three geographical regions in Switzerland to determine the scale of genetic differentiation among subpopulations. Three different wheat cultivars were sampled three times to determine whether differences in host genotype correlated with differences among corresponding pathogen populations. Seven restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci and one DNA fingerprint were assayed for each of the 432 isolates in the collection. DNA fingerprints differentiated 426 unique genotypes. Though absolute differences were small, five RFLP loci exhibited significant differences in allele frequencies across the nine sub-populations. Gene diversity within all subpopulations was high (H(T) = 0.51), but only 3% of the total genetic variation was distributed among the nine subpopulations. When subpopulations were grouped according to geographical region or host cultivar, less than 1% of the genetic variation was distributed among groups, suggesting widespread gene flow and the absence of pathogen adaptation to specific wheat cultivars. Tests for gametic equilibrium within subpopulations and across the entire Swiss population supported the hypothesis of random mating.     

我国小麦落选短体线虫群体遗传多样性分析

 为了明确我国落选短体线虫群体的遗传多样性,利用mtCOI基因标记对落选短体线虫9个地理群体的遗传结构及遗传分化进行分析。结果显示,9个地理群体中共得到101条mtCOI序列,发现28个碱基变异位点,形成14个单倍型。其中,H1单倍型最常见,为7个地理群体的59个个体共有,推测其可能为祖先单倍型。全部地理群体在物种水平呈现中等遗传多样性(H_T = 0.706±0.131),聚类分析显示其可分为类群Ⅰ与类群Ⅱ两个类群,AMOVA分析揭示落选短体线虫整体水平的遗传分化主要来源于种群间。Mantel检验表明落选短体线虫群体的遗传距离与地理距离存在正相关性,但是不同种群之间的遗传分化程度与地理距离没有显著关系。中性检验和错配分布检验均揭示落选短体线虫在整体水平和两个类群上的群体历史动态都处于相对稳定的状态。     

Geographical Genetic Structure of Xylella fastidiosa from Citrus in São Paulo State, Brazil

ABSTRACT A total of 360 Xylella fastidiosa strains were isolated from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cv. Pera plants growing in five geographic regions in the Brazilian state of S?o Paulo. The genetic variation of these strains was determined by 15 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) and 58 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The mean values of genetic diversity (H) of X. fastidiosa strains within each geographic region determined by RAPD (H(RAPD)) were substantially lower than H(VNTR) values. H(RAPD) values ranged from 0.00 to 0.095, whereas the H(VNTR) values ranged from 0.024 to 0.285. A highly significant value of Nei's coefficient of gene differentiation (G(ST) = 0.355; P = 0.000) was detected among all five populations. Analysis of the molecular variance (AMOVA) also revealed significant genetic differentiation among regions or populations ( phi(STAT) = 0.810; P< 0.001). In addition, genetic differentiation among subpopulations (plants) within the regions (phi(STAT) = 0.699; P < 0.001) and within each plant (phi(STAT) = 368; P < 0.001) were statistically significant. These high values of genetic differentiation among X. fastidiosa strains from different regions suggest a genetic structure according to region of host origin. However, no apparent correlation between genetic distance and region of origin of populations were supported statistically by Mantel analysis (r = 0.27; P = 0.22).     

山东省小麦禾谷孢囊线虫rDNA-ITS序列特征和基于ISSR的遗传多样性分析

小麦孢囊线虫病(CCN,Heterodera avenae)已成为山东省小麦生产上的一种重要病害,研究CCN群体间和群体内的遗传多样性可以为其综合防治提供理论依据。本实验研究了山东省17地市34个群体的r DNA-ITS区,并采用ISSR分子标记技术对其中10个地市的27个种群做了遗传多样性分析。结果表明,在r DNA-ITS系统发育树中,山东省34个小麦孢囊线虫群体与H.pratensis、H.australis及中国H.avenae群体亲缘关系较近。3个ISSR引物共扩增出31条条带,多态性条带百分率(PPB)为100%。菏泽、潍坊、烟台群体遗传多样性较高,枣庄、威海、淄博、滨州群体遗传多样性相对较低。M antel检测和聚类结果表明,群体间的遗传分化与地理距离并无显著的相关性,AM OVA分析结果显示,在总的遗传变异中17.7%的变异发生在群体间,82.3%的变异发生在群体内。研究结果显示山东省H.avenae具有较高的遗传多样性,且群体间已发生了一定程度的遗传分化。     

Pathogenic and genetic diversity of Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa in North Dakota

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa, has become more prevalent recently in North Dakota and neighboring states. From five locations in North Dakota, 226 strains of X. translucens pv. undulosa were collected and evaluated for pathogenicity and then selected strains were inoculated on a set of 12 wheat cultivars and other cereal hosts. The genetic diversity of all strains was determined using repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) and insertion sequence-based (IS)-PCR. Bacterial strains were pathogenic on wheat and barley but symptom severity was greatest on wheat. Strains varied greatly in aggressiveness, and wheat cultivars also showed differential responses to several strains. The 16S ribosomal DNA sequences of the strains were identical, and distinct from those of the other Xanthomonas pathovars. Combined rep-PCR and IS-PCR data produced 213 haplotypes. Similar haplotypes were detected in more than one location. Although diversity was greatest (≈92%) among individuals within a location, statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001 or 0.05) genetic differentiation among locations was estimated, indicating geographic differentiation between pathogen populations. The results of this study provide information on the pathogen diversity in North Dakota, which will be useful to better identify and characterize resistant germplasm.     

云南烟草产区辣椒脉斑驳病毒的调查及其遗传多样性分析

明确辣椒脉斑驳病毒(chilli veinal mottle virus, ChiVMV)在云南6个州(市)烟草生产区的分布、遗传多样性和群体遗传结构,对病害的防控预警具有重要意义。本研究以2022年采集自云南6个州(市)不同烟草产区的96份疑似感染ChiVMV的烟草样品为试验材料,利用电子显微镜负染色观察和分子生物学方法对病毒进行检测和鉴定,获得21个ChiVMV云南烟草分离物的cp基因序列。利用SDT、MEGA、RDP、DnaSP及Arlequin等生物学软件对21个云南烟草分离物及NCBI上下载的38个来自不同国家、地区及寄主的ChiVMV分离物cp基因序列的系统进化、遗传多样性和群体遗传结构特征进行分析。结果显示,从云南6个州(市)烟草生产区采集的96份烟草样品中,ChiVMV检出率为51.04%;序列比对发现,本研究获得的cp基因与NCBI中38个ChiVMV分离物cp基因的核苷酸一致性在84.1%以上;系统发育分析发现,59个ChiVMV分离物按照地理位置的远近被划分为4个分支,聚类结果具有明显的地理分布特征,而与寄主植物无关;遗传多样性和遗传分化分析表明,4个地理种群的ChiVMV cp基因遗传多样性水平均较高,中国种群与印度、泰国和其他国家种群间发生了很大的遗传分化且差异显著(P<0.05);遗传力分析显示,基因交流、遗传漂变和基因的负选择压力是ChiVMV分离物适应性进化的重要方式。     

Influence of host resistance on the genetic structure of the white pine blister rust fungus in the western United States

Cronartium ribicola, the causal agent of white pine blister rust, has been devastating to five-needled white pines in North America since its introduction nearly a century ago. However, dynamic and complex interactions occur among C. ribicola, five-needled white pines, and the environment. To examine potential evolutionary influences on genetic structure and diversity of C. ribicola in western United States, population genetic analyses of C. ribicola were conducted using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers. The fungus was sampled at six sites. Collections for two of the six sites were from separate plantings of resistant-selected western white pine and sugar pine. Heterozygosity based on polymorphic loci among populations ranged from 0.28 to 0.40, with resistant-selected plantations at the extremes. Genetic differentiation was also highest between these two populations. Principal coordinates analysis and Bayesian assignment placed most isolates that are putative carriers of virulence to major-gene resistance into a discernable cluster, while other isolates showed no clustering by site or host species. These results indicate that C. ribicola in western North America is not genetically uniform, despite its presumed single site of introduction and relatively brief residence. Moreover, major-gene resistance appears to have imposed strong selection on the rust, resulting in reduced genetic diversity. In contrast, no evidence of selection was observed in C. ribicola from hosts that exhibit only multigenic resistance.     

玉米螟赤眼蜂不同地理种群mtDNA基因序列分析及遗传分化研究

本研究通过对玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae不同地理种群的线粒体DNA COⅠ、COⅡ和Cytb基因进行序列分析,研究了我国玉米螟赤眼蜂不同地理种群的遗传分化程度.结果发现,玉米螟赤眼蜂群体内线粒体基因具有丰富的遗传多态性,且各地理种群之间已产生不同程度的遗传分化.中性检测结果表明,玉米螟赤眼蜂进化遵循中性模型,且在过去呈现种群扩张趋势.玉米螟赤眼蜂不同地理种群之间的遗传距离在0.002～0.020之间.种群系统聚类树分支结构和Mantel相关性分析结果表明,玉米螟赤眼蜂各地理种群的遗传距离与地理距离间不具有显著的相关性.     

不同寄主来源的Monilinia fructicola对多菌灵的敏感性及其遗传结构特征

美澳型核果链核盘菌Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey是引起多种果树褐腐病的重要病原菌，多菌灵是防治该病害的重要杀菌剂。为明确不同寄主来源的菌株对多菌灵的敏感性及遗传结构差异，研究测定了来源于樱桃、李子和毛桃的17株菌株对多菌灵的敏感性，同时基于Tub2核苷酸序列分析了来源于樱桃和毛桃的32株M. fructicola群体的遗传多样性和群体分化特征。结果表明:来自樱桃、李子和毛桃的17株菌株中，多菌灵的EC₅₀< 1 μg/mL和 > 1 μg/mL的菌株比例分别为58.8%和41.2%，其中EC₅₀> 50 μg/mL的菌株比例为17.6%。来自毛桃的菌株群体多样性比来自樱桃的高，其核苷酸多样性分别为3.25 × 10?3和0.94 × 10?3，单倍型多样性分别为0.883和0.242；两群体间存在显著的遗传分化，分化程度较高，其F_ST值达到0.148。单倍型网络分析结果显示:来自樱桃和毛桃的群体分别含有3种和9种单倍型，其中共有单倍型2种；不同单倍型在进化过程中主要发生了两个途径的进化，其中一个途径只出现了来自毛桃群体的1种单倍型，其他单倍型经过不同的突变步骤形成另一个途径。寄主特异性检验结果发现，来自樱桃的菌株具有一定的寄主特异性，而来自毛桃的菌株与寄主的关联性较差。综合研究表明，M. fructicola对多菌灵的抗性频率较高，且来自不同寄主的群体遗传结构差异性较大。     

苹果黑星病菌遗传多样性的SSR分析

 Apple scab caused by Venturia inaequalis has a tendency to spread and threatens the development of apple production in recent years in China. The genetic diversity and population structure were investigated by using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. 51 strains were classified into 3 groups by UPGMA method as Xunyi, Xingping and U. K. population, each of them mainly including strains from its original place. A relatively high level of genetic diversity was revealed:H=0.425 3, I=0.675 8, PPL=66.67% (at species level); H=0.149 1, I=0.228 0, PPL=44.44% (at population level). A high level of genetic differentia-tion was detected among/within populations with Nei's Gst analysis and AMOVA. Molecular genetic variance within populations was greater than that among populations. Genetic variance among populations might result from barriers to gene flow (Nm=0.675 8). Genetic variance within populations might result from sexual propagation of V. inaequalis.     

Genetic Structure of Cronartium ribicola Populations in Eastern Canada

ABSTRACT The genetic structure of populations of Cronartium ribicola was studied by sampling nine populations from five provinces in eastern Canada and generating DNA profiles using nine random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Most of the total gene diversity (H(t) = 0.386) was present within populations (H(w) = 0.370), resulting in a low level of genetic differentiation among populations in northeastern North America (F(st) = 0.062). A hierarchical analysis of genetic structure using an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed no statistically significant genetic differentiation among provinces or among regions. Yet, genetic differentiation among populations within regions or provinces was small (AMOVA phi(st) = 0.078) but statistically significant (P < 0.001) and was several orders of magnitude larger than differentiation among provinces. This is consistent with a scenario of subpopulations within a metapopulation, in which random drift following migration and new colonization are major evolutionary forces. A phenetic analysis using genetic distances revealed no apparent correlation between genetic distance and the province of origin of the populations. The hypothesis of isolation-by-distance in the eastern populations of C. ribicola was rejected by computing Mantel correlation coefficients between genetic and geographic distance matrices (P > 0.05). These results show that eastern Canadian provinces are part of the same white pine blister rust epidemiological unit. Nursery distribution systems are controlled provincially, with virtually no seedling movement among provinces; therefore, infected nursery material may not play an important role in the dissemination of this disease. Long-distance spore dispersal across provincial boundaries appears to be an epidemiologically important factor for this pathogen.     

Genetic Structure of Melampsora Epitea Populations in Swedish Salix Viminalis Plantations

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to study the genetic structure of populations of the willow leaf rust, Melampsora epitea, in Swedish willow plantations. In total, 197 isolates collected from Salix viminalis clones in three locations in Sweden were analysed. AFLP profiles based on 83 markers were used to compute genetic distances between pairs of individuals. High levels of gene and genotypic diversity were detected in all populations, with 96% of the AFLP loci being polymorphic and with normalized Shannon's diversity indices ranging from 0.977 to 1.0. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed small significant differences among locations, although most of the molecular variability was found within locations (97.5%). Five isolates from one willow clone in one location differed markedly from the common pattern. When these five exceptional isolates were excluded, no significant differences among willow clones were found with AMOVA. Sexual reproduction and spore migration appear to be important factors for the population genetic structure of this pathogen.     

Evidence for Natural Selection in the Mitochondrial Genome of Mycosphaerella graminicola

ABSTRACT Pathogenicity assays were combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers in the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes to compare Mycosphaerella graminicola populations adapted to bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (T. turgidum) in the Mediterranean Basin. The majority of isolates had unique nuclear DNA fingerprints and multilocus haplotypes. Only six mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes were identified among 108 isolates assayed. There were minor differences in frequencies of alleles at nuclear RFLP loci between the two host-adapted populations, but differences in the frequencies of mtDNA haplotypes were highly significant (P < 0.0001). mtDNA haplotype 1 dominated on the isolates adapted to bread wheat, and its frequency was twice as high as for the isolates adapted to durum wheat. mtDNA haplotype 4, which contained a unique approximately 3-kb insertion, was detected only in isolates showing specificity toward durum wheat and was the dominant haplotype on this species. We propose that the low mitochondrial diversity in this pathogenic fungus is due to a selective sweep and that differences in the frequencies of mtDNA haplotypes between the two host-adapted populations were due to natural selection according to host species.     

Population Genetic Structure of Tapesia acuformis in Washington State

ABSTRACT Eyespot of wheat is caused by Tapesia yallundae and T. acuformis. Historically, T. yallundae has been considered the more important causal agent of the disease in Washington state and consists of a large homogeneous population with a genetic structure consistent with both sexual and asexual reproduction. T. acuformis has increased significantly in Washington in the past 10 years and apothecia were found recently under natural field conditions, indicating that T. acuformis may have a more important role in eyespot of wheat than previously was thought. To determine the genetic structure of T. acuformis in Washington, 141 single conidial isolates were sampled from four subpopulations in the eastern wheat-growing region of the state. Isolates were scored for mating type and six amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. All markers segregated in a 1:1 ratio and were determined to be unlinked based on genetic analysis of 24 progeny from an in vitro cross. No significant differences in allele frequencies (0.127 < P < 0.809) were found among individual loci across the four subpopulations and over all loci based on contingency table analysis of the log-likelihood ratio statistic G(2). Likewise, no overall differences between subpopulations were detected using the population differentiation statistic theta (theta = -0.004, P = 0.537). Random mating could not be rejected within each subpopulation or for the combined data using clone-corrected data sets based on (i) 1:1 ratio of mating-type, (ii) multilocus gametic disequilibrium analyses (index of association), (iii) phylogenetic analyses (parsimony tree length permutation test), and (iv) genotypic diversity analyses. T. acuformis has a genetic structure similar to that of sympatric populations of T. yallundae in Washington, with both sexual and asexual reproduction contributing to the structuring of this species.     

Genetic diversity of the weed species,Stellera chamaejasme,in China inferred from amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis

Stellera chamaejasme is a perennial weed with a wide geographic range that is found from the Altai of eastern Russia, northern China and Mongolia southwards as far as the western Himalayas of the Qinghai–Tibet and Yungui Plateaus. The genetic diversity and population structure of 17 populations of S. chamaejasme, represented by 349 individuals, were assessed by using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. The results showed a relatively high level of genetic variation at the species level. The proportion of total diversity among populations was 0.4370, suggesting significant genetic differentiation and a low gene flow among the populations of this species. The Mantel test indicated that genetic differentiation among populations was significantly correlated with geographic distance. Genetic drift through range expansion and a low gene flow among populations might result in a lower diversity in peripheral populations, compared to central populations. A Bayesian analysis revealed two potential gene pools in S. chamaejasme, which was confirmed by neighbor‐joining clustering and principal coordinate analysis. These results demonstrate that it is necessary to develop suitable biocontrol agents for populations with different gene pools.     

Genetic variation among populations of Pythium irregulare in southern Australia

Isolates of Pythium irregulare were sampled from seven cereal crops throughout South Australia to determine the extent of genetic diversity within this pathogen and the scale of genetic differentiation among populations. Data derived from 29 individual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci differentiated 54 DNA fingerprints among the 92 isolates analysed. Some isolates had two alleles at several RFLP loci and were scored as heterozygous. One such isolate was selfed in vitro and segregation ratios in the progeny were not significantly different from those expected for allelic variation in a diploid. These data provided evidence that outcrossing occurs within P. irregulare and may contribute to the high level of genetic variation within the species ( D _T = 0·502). Allelic frequencies were significantly different among all seven populations and G _ST values showed significant genetic differentiation between populations. The average genetic identity among populations was low and hierarchical cluster analysis provided no clear evidence that populations formed geographically related groups. These analyses indicate low levels of interpopulation gene flow within P. irregulare and imply that population differentiation results from genetic drift.     

Molecular evidence supports hypervariability in Phytophthora colocasiae associated with leaf blight of taro

The oomycete Phytophthora colocasiae that causes taro leaf blight is the most devastating disease of taro and is widely distributed worldwide. Molecular and phenotypic techniques were employed for assessing and exploiting the genetic variability among four populations of P. colocasiae obtained from a fine spatial scale (multiple leaf blight lesions on single taro leaf). Phenotypic characters such as virulence, morphology and mating type showed no variation. ITS characterization revealed detectable polymorphism among isolates of P. colocasiae. The mean number of haplotypes (H), haplotype diversity (HD), nucleotide diversity (π), and nucleotide substitution rate (θ) among analyzed sequences were 6.75, 1.00, 0.069, and 0.088 respectively. High levels of inter and intra specific variation were detected by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assays. Moderate genetic diversity (H?=?0.2651) was observed among populations of P. colocasiae. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) confirmed that most of the genetic variability was confined to within a population (63.54 %). The coefficient of genetic differentiation among populations (G _ST ) was 0.2007 and estimates of gene flow (Nm) among populations was 1.991 migrants per generation. Cluster analysis using UPGMA revealed that individuals from the same population failed to cluster in one distinct group. The results of the study reveal considerable genetic diversity among and within populations of P. colocasiae obtained from fine spatial scale. The possible mechanisms and implications of this genetic variation are discussed.