Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and the relationships of some host-adapted isolates of Verticillium dahliae

The relationships of two host-adapted pathotypes of Verticillium dahliae have been examined at the molecular level using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Isolates obtained from and adapted to Mentha × piperita (peppermint), which were presumed to be haploid, formed a distinct subspecific group (referred to as M) related to the previously described non-host-adapted subspecific group A of V. dahliae. The limited molecular variation found among the four group M isolates was not related to geographic origin. Isolates from several cruciferous hosts (and one from Beta vulgaris (sugar beet)), which are thought to be natural, stable diploids, formed another distinct group (referred to as D) that was markedly different from all previously described subspecific groupings in both V. dahliae and V. alboatrum. This group of isolates might better be regarded as a separate species. Again, only limited variation was found within the D group. Polymorphisms revealed by two probes distinguished two isolates derived from Brassica rapa (Chinese cabbage) from the six other isolates (four from Brassica napus (oilseed rape) and one each from Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish) and Beta vulgaris).