Genetic Diversity in Relation to Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Populations of Melampsora larici-epitea

Genetic diversity of Melampsora larici-epitea leaf rust from three cultivated stands of the willow Salix viminalis was studied using AFLP polymorphisms at 60 loci. One population was located in Northern Ireland and two in Sweden. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that most of the genetic variation was distributed on a fine scale within the field in all populations. Both Swedish populations displayed a very high genotypic diversity (normalized Shannon's indices of 0.95 and 1.00) and random association among loci. These results suggested that sexual reproduction had an important influence on the Swedish populations. The occurence of the alternate host (larch) adjacent to one of the Swedish rust populations did not affect the genetic diversity. However, severe rust attacks started earlier in the season in this population. The M. larici-epitea population in Northern Ireland was characterized by a low genotypic diversity (normalized Shannon's index = 0.54) and non-random association among loci was indicated by test of multilocus association and by pairwise tests among loci. These results suggested that asexual reproduction had a major effect on the genetic structure of this population, probably because of the overwintering of asexual spores and/or a population bottleneck associated with the annual sexual phase.     

High levels of genetic and genotypic diversity in field populations of the barley pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni

The ascomycete pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni causes Ramularia leaf spot (RLS) on barley. Although R. collo-cygni is considerd an emerging disease of barley, little is known about genetic diversity or population genetic structure of this pathogen. We applied a set of polymorphic AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) markers to investigate population genetic structure in two Northern European populations of R. collo-cygni. The distribution of AFLP alleles revealed low levels of population subdivision and high levels of genetic diversity at both locations. Our analyses included 87 isolates and of these 84 showed a unique genotype pattern. The genetic structure of populations in Scotland and Denmark is highly similar and we find no evidence of population sub-division. An analysis of molecular variance was used to show that 86 % of the variance is attributable to within field genetic variance. In spite of the high levels of genetic and genotypic diversity in the R. collo-cygni populations, we find significant evidence of linkage disequilibrium among the AFLP alleles using a multilocus analysis. We propose that the high levels of genotypic diversity and the lack of population differentiation result from considerable levels of gene flow between populations most likely mediated by seed borne dispersal of inoculum.     

Genetic structure of Verticillium dahliae isolates infecting olive trees in Tunisia using AFLP,pathogenicity and PCR markers

Since 2006, verticillium wilt of olive induced by Verticillium dahliae has caused considerable economic losses in olive orchards in Tunisia. The genetic structure of V. dahliae isolates collected from different olive growing regions was investigated using virulence tests, vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses. In total, 42 isolates of V. dahliae from diseased olive trees were tested. Cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis revealed that geographic origin was the main factor determining the genetic structure of V. dahliae populations and both methods indicated a genetic separation between the central and coastal isolates. Isolates were divided into two major groups: the AFLP‐I group included all isolates from Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, Kasserine and Sfax (centre of the country) and the AFLP‐II group included isolates from Monastir, Zaghouane, Sousse, Mahdia (coastal region), and two isolates from Sfax. Analysis of the molecular variance (amova ) indicated a significant level of genetic differentiation among (76%) and within (23%) the two populations. Analyses of both the defoliating (D) and non‐defoliating (ND) pathotypes and VCG markers indicated that most of the isolates belong to VCG 2A and 4B/ND pathotype. The disease severity was highly variable among the isolates tested (P < 0·05) with no evidence of association between aggressiveness and geographical origin of the isolates. Overall, results of this study revealed a clear association between the genetic diversity of the isolates and their geographic origin, but not between genetic diversity and virulence patterns.     

Characterization of a Fusarium poae world-wide collection by using molecular markers

Fusarium poae has been considered as a minor species among those that cause Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) disease but in recent years several researchers have documented a high frequency of occurrence of this species. In this study, a total of 173 F. poae isolates from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Switzerland and Uruguay were evaluated by using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to evaluate genetic variability within F. poae and to amplify MAT idiomorphs as a possible mechanism that could explain part of the variability found in this species. The molecular analysis obtained from both molecular markers showed a high intraspecific variability. However, a partial clustering between F. poae isolates and their geographic origin was obtained by ISSR markers while AFLP showed isolates from different geographic locations distributed throughout the dendrogram. Moreover, ISSR grouped all the F. poae isolates into a different cluster from the F. langsethiae and F. sporotrichioides isolates used as outgroups compared with the dendrogram obtained using AFLP markers. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated a high genetic variability in the F. poae collection, with most of the genetic variability resulting from differences within, rather than between, American and European populations by using both molecular markers. Regarding MAT idiomorphs, for most F. poae isolates both MAT-1 and MAT-2 were present from each isolate.     

Comparison of RAPD and AFLP Marker Analysis as a Means to Study the Genetic Structure of Botrytis cinerea Populations

To assess the genetic relationships of Botrytis cinerea populations in Almería (Spain), 44 isolates of B. cinerea, collected from six commercial greenhouses (subpopulations), were analysed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Polymorphisms were more frequently detected per primer with AFLP than with RAPD (16 compared to 4). However, RAPD detected polymorphisms more frequently per loci than AFLP (56% compared to 32%). The analysis of population structure revealed that the genetic diversity within subpopulations (H_S) accounted for 96% of the total genetic diversity (H_T) , while genetic diversity among subpopulations represented only 4% of the total diversity, independently of whether they were analysed with RAPD or AFLP markers. The relative magnitude of gene differentiation between subpopulations (G_ST) and the estimate of the number of migrants per generation (N_m) averaged similar values when estimated with RAPD or AFLP markers (0.039 and 0.036, or 12.32 and 13.39, respectively). The results obtained in dendrograms were in accordance with the gene diversity analysis. However, the diversity of B. cinerea was higher when analysed by RAPD than with AFLP. In these cases, the isolates could not be grouped by greenhouse or fungicide resistance (except those sensitive to carbendazim and resistant to procymidone). Both the RAPD and AFLP technologies are suitable for studies of genetic structure of B. cinerea populations, although RAPD generated more polymorphisms per loci than AFLP, and provided a better explanation of the genetic relationships between isolates.     

Genetic Characterization of Cercospora sorghi from Cultivated and Wild Sorghum and Its Relationship to Other Cercospora Fungi

ABSTRACT Genetic variability and population structure of Cercospora sorghi from wild and cultivated sorghum were investigated to gain insight into their potential impact on epidemics of gray leaf spot of sorghum in Africa. Population structure was examined using data derived from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) of C. sorghi by Nei's test for population differentiation, G(ST), and analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA). Two ecological populations of C. sorghi in Uganda were devoid of population structure (G(ST) = 0.03, small ef, CyrillicF(ST) = 0.01, P = 0.291). AMOVA revealed that genetic variability was due mainly to variations within (99%) rather than between (0.35%) populations, and Nei's genetic distance between the two populations was 0.014. Phenetic analysis based on AFLP data and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA and mitochondrial small subunit rDNA separated Cercospora cereal pathogens from dicot pathogens but did not differentiate among C. sorghi isolates from wild and cultivated sorghum. Our results indicate that Ugandan populations of C. sorghi compose one epidemiological unit and suggest that wild sorghum, while not affecting genetic variability of the pathogen population, provides an alternative host for generating additional inoculum.     

Genetic variability of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in wild populations of common bean

The genetic structure of wild populations of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum was evaluated for virulence and molecular markers. Forty-five isolates were collected from five wild common bean populations located in their South-Andean centre of origin. The five pathogen populations were monomorphic in their ITS regions, but 45 polymorphic markers were identified using RAPDs. Polymorphism for virulence was also observed; 15 pathotypes were characterized on an international set of 12 differentials. A molecular variance analysis ( AMOVA ) showed that a very large part of the total genetic variation was within populations. Statistical analysis showed that there was a weak though significant differentiation among the five populations for the RAPD and virulence markers. A positive and significant correlation was found between geographic distance and the distances from RAPD and virulence data, suggesting migration between adjacent populations along the Argentinian transect. Our results suggest that the Andean wild isolates of C. lindemuthianum do not reflect all the putative diversity found in the isolates from cultivated common bean.     

Heterogeneous Nature of a ‘new’ Pathotype of Melampsora Rust on Salix Revealed by AFLP

An outbreak of rust on Salix × mollissima (S. triandra × S. viminalis) Q83, an important biomass willow, was first observed at several locations in the UK in 1992. Rust collections obtained from Q83 in 1992 at Long Ashton (south west England), Markington (Northern England) and Loughgall (Northern Ireland), were tested for pathogenicity and examined using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). All collections showed the same pathogenicity patterns on the eight willow differentials and were assigned to f.sp. larici-epitea typica of Melampsora epitea. A total of 304 AFLP markers was scored for 54 rust isolates, 20 from Long Ashton, 20 from Markington and 14 from Loughgall. Cluster analysis placed the isolates into three distinct groups according to the collection sites. Within each site, Markington isolates were least variable, Nei & Li's similarity coefficients averaging 0.996. Average similarities within isolates from Long Ashton and Loughgall were 0.899 and 0.883, respectively. Average per-locus diversity within site (H_j), calculated using Shannon information index, was 0.014 in Markington, 0.24 in Long Ashton and 0.23 in Loughgall population. Most diversity (69.1%) was partitioned between populations. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) attributed 85.8% of variance to between populations and 14.2% to the individuals within populations. The results suggest that, in 1992, this previously unknown pathotype was not spread from a common source but from separate sources. The AFLP analysis and early records on the host range of M. epitea indicate that the rust virulent to S. × mollissima may have existed in nature before 1992.     

Structure of the Cochliobolus sativus population variability

The genetic diversity of several local populations of the fungal pathogen Cochliobolus sativus, collected over 3 years from different regions of the Czech Republic, was examined using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A high level of variability was found even among isolates from one lesion. Measures of multilocus linkage disequilibrium suggested that recombination has a minor impact on the genetic structure of populations. Cochliobolus sativus forms genetically divergent populations (F_ST = 0·33), indicating a low level of geneflow between populations. This was supported by a significant correlation between genetic diversity and geographical distances up to 80–100 km. The most likely explanation for the genetic variability is that the fungus forms conidia with highly variable chromosomal rearrangements. The differentiation observed among local populations implies that genetic drift, including a founder effect, combined with restricted migration generates the structure of C. sativus populations.     

Extent and pattern of genetic differentiation within and between European populations of Phelipanche ramosa revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis

The extent and pattern of genetic differentiation between Phelipanche ramosa populations colonising tobacco in different European regions were investigated by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, in order to determine levels of variation for tobacco resistance breeding and management programmes. Four different AFLP primer pairs amplified a total of 1050 clear and reproducible bands, of which 962 (91.62%) were polymorphic among the 35 individuals taken from four P. ramosa populations collected in Spain, Italy, Bulgaria and Germany. Cluster analysis based on the AFLP data categorised the plants into distinct groups, in line with their geographical origin, denoting clear genetic differentiation among the four populations. This differentiation was supported by both high bootstrap values and significant results of the analysis of molecular variance. The most divergent population was the one from Bulgaria. The majority of the genetic diversity was attributable to differences among populations (77.80%), as expected from the predominant autogamous behaviour of this species. Populations differed significantly in within-population diversity, as measured by Shannon's information index. The German population presented the lowest genetic diversity and the Italian population harboured the highest level of within-population genetic diversity. There are significant differences in genetic diversity level among the studied P. ramosa populations and clear population-specific genetic diversity structures. These need to be taken into account, together with the potential differences in parasite aggressiveness, when planning breeding and management strategies for P. ramosa control in tobacco cultivation.     

Population genetic diversity and structure of the pecan scab pathogen,Venturia effusa,on cv. Desirable and native seedlings,and the impact of marker number

Scab (Venturia effusa) is the major cause of economic loss in pecan in the south-eastern USA. We explored population genetic diversity and structure among orchards of cv. Desirable and native seedlings, and within-orchard variability among trees of all cultivars sampled. We compared the ability of 30, 15 and 7 previously developed microsatellites to characterize the population genetic diversity and structure of V. effusa. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) provided little evidence of structure dependent on cultivar, but there was some evidence of structure between orchards of a cultivar based on distance. Individual orchard AMOVA showed that three of 11 orchards had between-tree population structure. Among six populations from cv. Desirable, a Mantel test showed that geographic distance was related to the pairwise genetic divergence (R² = 0.84). Among 11 orchards of various cultivars there was little difference in diversity using 30, 15 or 7 markers, or population structure based on AMOVA. Some minor differences in population structure were seen based on discriminant analysis of principal components, or dendrograms. Thus, depending on the objectives, future studies may use as few as 15 or 7 markers without losing ability to discern population genetic diversity or structure. More populations exhibited linkage disequilibrium when using 15 or 30 markers compared to when using seven markers. Knowledge of population genetics of V. effusa in relation to host genotype is needed to understand pathogen population interactions and gene flow, knowledge that will help underpin future breeding efforts to develop durable resistance in this long-lived orchard tree.     

Genotypic Diversity of the Wheat Leaf Blotch Pathogen Mycosphaerella Graminicola (anamorph) Septoria Tritici in Germany

The population structure and genotypic diversity of Mycosphaerella graminicola from six natural field populations in Germany were studied with molecular markers. To reveal the potential effects of plant host resistance on the pathogen population, hierarchical samples were taken from susceptible and resistant cultivars. A total of 203 single spore isolates was subjected to molecular marker analysis using the amplified fragment length polymorphism technique (AFLP). Among the 203 isolates analyzed, 142 different multilocus haplotypes (MLH) were identified revealing a high degree of genotypic diversity of the M. graminicola population. On average, a F _ST value of 0.04 was found, indicating a low genetic differentiation with only 4% of the genetic variation between the local populations but leaving 96% of the genetic variation within the populations. According to the low F _ST value, a high migration rate of Nm 12 was found. The observed high within-population diversity, and the significant migration between populations, prevented genetic isolation and differentiation of putative geographically separated populations. Furthermore, plant host resistance had no obvious effect on the population structure and diversity of M. graminicola. Genotypic variability can be attributed to sexual recombination which appears to have a considerably larger influence on the population structure. Gene flow on this scale could have significant implications for plant breeding and fungicide spraying programmes.     

Genetic differentiation in populations of Exserohilum turcicum from maize and sorghum in South Africa

Exserohilum turcicum is the causal agent of northern leaf blight, a devastating foliar disease of maize and sorghum. Specificity of E. turcicum to either maize or sorghum has been observed previously, but molecular evidence supporting host specialization is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the genetic structure of E. turcicum isolates collected from adjacent maize and sorghum fields in Delmas and Greytown in South Africa. In addition, the mode of reproduction of this pathogen was investigated. Isolates from maize (N = 62) and sorghum (N = 64) were screened with 12 microsatellite markers as well as a multiplex mating type PCR assay. No shared haplotypes were observed between isolates from different hosts, although shared haplotypes were detected between isolates from maize from Delmas and Greytown. Population structure and principal coordinate analyses revealed genetic differentiation between E. turcicum isolates from maize and sorghum. Analysis of molecular variance indicated higher among‐population variation when comparing populations from different hosts, than comparing populations from different locations. Lack of shared haplotypes, high proportion of private alleles, greater among‐population variance between hosts than locations and significant pairwise population differentiation indicates genetic separation between isolates from maize and sorghum. The high haplotypic diversity in combination with unequal mating type ratios and significant linkage equilibrium indicates that both sexual and asexual reproduction contributes to the population genetic structure of E. turcicum in South Africa.     

Investigating the Spatiotemporal Genetic Structure of Phytophthora capsici in Michigan

ABSTRACT Phytophthora capsici isolates were recovered from pepper and cucurbit hosts at seven locations in Michigan from 1998 to 2000. Isolates were characterized for compatibility type (CT), mefenoxam sensitivity (MS), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker profiles. In total, 94 AFLP bands were resolved. Individual populations were highly variable. Within populations, 39 to 49% of the AFLP bands were polymorphic and estimated heterozygosities ranged from 0.16 to 0.19. Of the 646 isolates fingerprinted, 70% (454) had unique AFLP profiles. No clones were recovered between years or locations. Pairwise F statistics (Phi(ST)) between populations from different locations ranged from 0.18 to 0.40. A tree based on unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average cluster analysis indicates discrete clusters based on location. Isolates from the same location showed no clustering based on the year of sampling. Analysis of molecular variance partitioned variability among (40%) and within populations (60%). The overall estimated Phi(ST) was 0.34 (SD = 0.03). A1/A2 CT ratios were approximately 1:1, and MS frequencies were similar between years for the two locations sampled over time. These data suggest that P. capsici persists in discrete outcrossing populations and that gene flow among locations in Michigan is infrequent.     

Population Genetic Structure of Septoria passerinii in Northern Great Plains Barley

ABSTRACT The genetic structure of Septoria passerinii from nine field populations was examined at several scales (within lesions, among lesions in a leaf, among leaves in a field, and among fields in North Dakota and western Minnesota) by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 390 isolates were sampled from seven barley fields located in North Dakota and two barley fields located nearby in western Minnesota in 2003 and 2004. Based on 57 polymorphic AFLP markers, AFLP DNA fingerprints identified 176 different genotypes among 390 (non-clone-corrected) isolates in nine different fields. In two intensively sampled sites, ND16 (Williston, ND) and ND17 (Langdon, ND), only one to four different genotypes were found within a lesion. A higher level of genetic and genotypic diversity was found within a leaf in which six to nine different genotypes were found from lesions on a leaf. The genetic diversity within a leaf was similar to the genetic diversity within a field. The average genetic diversity (H) within a field across all AFLP loci was approximately 0.3, except at site ND12 (Carrington, ND) where it was 0.16. Genotypic diversity was high in all populations, and with the exception of ND15 (Rothsay, MN), very low multilocus linkage disequilibrium values ( r(d)) were found in all populations. The population differentiation, G(ST), was relatively high (G(ST) = 0.238) among the nine populations due to the high G(ST) in ND12, ND14 (Twin Valley, MN), and ND15. Population differentiation without those three populations was 0.09. A lack of correlation between geographical distance and genetic distance was found, suggesting the potential for a high level of gene flow between different geographical regions. The population genetic structure described in this study for S. passerinii in North Dakota and western Minnesota is consistent with that of a sexually reproducing fungus.     

Characterization, Genetic Structure, and Pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia spp. Associated with Rice Sheath Diseases in India

ABSTRACT Isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were obtained from rice in India during 2000-2003. Characterization by conventional techniques and polymerase chain reaction showed that from 110 isolates, 99 were R. solani and 11 were R. oryzae-sativae. Of 99 isolates identified as R. solani, 96 were AG1-IA, 1 was AG1-IB, and 2 were AG1-IC. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyzes were used to determine genetic relationships in Rhizoctonia pathogen populations collected from different geographic regions. Cluster analysis based on the AFLP data separated isolates belonging to the three different intraspecific groups of R. solani AG1 and differentiated R. solani from R. oryzae-sativae. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that geographic region was the dominant factor determining population structure of R. solani AG1-1A; host cultivar had no significant effect. Pathogenicity tests on Oryza sativa cv. Zenith revealed that isolates of R. solani AG1-1A and AG1-1B were more virulent than R. solani AG1-IC and R. oryzae-sativae isolates.     

西南地区稻瘟病菌群体遗传多样性分析

为明确西南地区稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe grisea(Hebert)Barr群体遗传结构及其多样性水平,选用13对SSR引物对来自18个县(市)的221个稻瘟病菌单孢菌株进行PCR扩增,利用最长距离法和生物学软件进行聚类分析和群体遗传多样性分析。结果显示,13对SSR引物均能扩增出一条大小相同且清晰的条带,多态位点百分率高达100%。221个菌株在0.16相异水平上可划分为13个遗传宗谱,宗谱SCL01含205个菌株,占总菌株数的92.76%,为优势宗谱;宗谱SCL02~SCL013为劣势宗谱,差异极大。在群体水平上,菌源丰富的8个区域稻瘟病菌群体的Nei’s基因多样性指数为0.2133,Shannon信息指数为0.3588,具有丰富的遗传多样性,且群体间差异较大;这8个种群基于UPGMA法大都聚为一类,种群遗传谱系与地理区域分布呈一定相关性,群体遗传多样性均值为0.2518,存在一定的遗传分化,且群体内多样性大于群体间,总遗传变异的59.37%存在于群体内。总体上,西南地区稻瘟病菌群体结构既有明显的优势宗谱,又存在许多复杂多变的特异性小宗谱,具有丰富的遗传多样性,与地理分布关系较为密切。     

ISSR markers detect high genetic variation among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium poae</Emphasis> isolates from Argentina and England

Fusarium poae is one of the Fusarium species isolated from cereal grains infected by Fusarium head blight (FHB), and in recent years it has been identified as a major FHB component. In this study, 97 F. poae isolates from Argentina (n = 62) and England (n = 35) were analysed by inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) to examine the genetic diversity and to determine whether intraspecific variation could be correlated with geographic and/or host origin. The molecular analysis showed high intraspecific variability within F. poae isolates, but did not reveal a clear relationship between variability and the host/geographic origin. Fusarium poae isolates from the same geographic region or host appeared in different subclusters. Conversely, isolates with the same haplotype were also collected from different geographic regions. However, we did observe subclusters consisting of isolates from Argentina only or from England only. Furthermore, a single seed sample was found to host different haplotypes. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated a high genetic variability in F. poae, with most of the genetic variability explained by differences within, rather than between Argentinean and English populations. This is the first report on genetic diversity of F. poae using ISSR markers. Moreover, ISSR fingerprinting generates highly polymorphic markers for F. poae and proved to be a useful and reliable assay for genetic variability studies.     

Host-specific Genetic Composition of Melampsora larici-epitea Populations on Two Salix viminalis Varieties in a Mixture Trial

The genetic composition of Melampsora larici-epitea populations on two Salix viminalis varieties in monoculture and in mixed stands of Salix was studied using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A total of 88 isolates collected from a large-scale mixture trial in Northern Ireland were analyzed. Genetic analyses were based on polymorphism for 63 AFLP markers. Differences in genetic composition of M. larici-epitea populations between the two S. viminalis varieties were indicated by all population characteristics used. In neighbor-joining analysis and principal component analysis, isolates from the same variety tended to group together. Analysis of molecular variance indicated a substantial differentiation between varieties (_ST = 0.20) and differences in genotypic composition was indicated by the non-random distribution of clonal isolates between the two varieties. The detection of host specialization with selectively neutral DNA markers was ascribed to predominant asexual reproduction. No differences in gene or genotypic diversity between M. larici-epitea populations in mixed and monoclonal stands were found for any of the two S. viminalis varieties.     

High genotype diversity and lack of isolation by distance in the Alternaria solani populations from China

A genomic library was used to develop seven SSR markers for studying the population genetics of Alternaria solani, a pathogenic fungus causing early blight disease of potato and tomato worldwide. Population genetic analysis of 268 isolates of A. solani sampled from four locations, each representing one of four potato production systems in China, indicates that these SSR markers are moderately diverse, selectively neutral and possibly unlinked. Population genetic analysis also indicated that genetic variation of A. solani in China is high. About 2/3 of 123 genotypes were detected only once and genotype diversity measured by the standardized Shannon index ranged between 0·82 and 0·92 in the populations. Although clones were detected in multiple populations separated by thousands of kilometres, random association among SSR loci was found in half of the populations assayed. On average, nearly six copies of genetic material were exchanged among these populations each generation and no isolation by distance was detected. It is hypothesized that the joint effects of cryptic sexual reproduction and human‐mediated gene flow may account for the observed population genetic structure of A. solani in China.