Hypovirulence and Double-Stranded RNA in Botrytis cinerea

ABSTRACT Twenty-one strains of Botrytis cinerea isolated from 13 species of plants grown in China were compared for pathogenicity on Brassica napus, mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar, and presence of double-stranded (ds)RNA. The results showed that the strain CanBc-1 was severely debilitated in pathogenicity and mycelial growth, compared with the 20 virulent strains. A dsRNA of approximately 3.0 kb in length was detected in CanBc-1 and 4 hypovirulent single-conidium (SC) isolates of CanBc-1, but was not detected in the 20 virulent strains of B. cinerea and 4 virulent SC isolates of CanBc-1. Results of the horizontal transmission experiment showed that the hypovirulent trait of CanBc-1 was transmissible and the 3.0-kb dsRNA was involved in the transmission of hypovirulence. Analysis of a 920-bp cDNA sequence generated from the 3.0-kb dsRNA of CanBc-1 indicated that the dsRNA element was a mycovirus, designated as B. cinerea debilitation-related virus (BcDRV). Further analyses showed that BcDRV is closely related to Ophiostoma mitovirus 3b infecting O. novo-ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. Mitochondria and cytoplasm in hyphal cells of CanBc-1 became degenerated, compared with the virulent isolate CanBc-1c-66 of B cinerea. This is the first report on the occurrence of Mitovirus-associated hypovirulence in B. cinerea.     

Interspecific Transmission of Double-Stranded RNA and Hypovirulence from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to S. minor

ABSTRACT Interspecific transmission of a hypovirulence-associated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and hypovirulent phenotype was attempted from hypovirulent isolate Ss275 of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to five virulent isolates of S. minor. dsRNA and the hypovirulent phenotype were successfully transmitted to one of the five isolates, Sm10. Three putative converted isolates of Sm10 were slow growing and developed atypical colony morphologies characteristic of the hypovirulent phenotype. These isolates were assayed for virulence and produced significantly smaller lesions than isolate Sm10 on detached leaves of Romaine lettuce. One of these putative converted isolates, designated Sm10T, was tested to confirm interspecific transmission of dsRNA. In northern hybridizations, dsRNA isolated from Sm10T hybridized with a digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probe prepared from dsRNA isolated from Ss275. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis confirmed that isolate Sm10T was derived from Sm10 and not from Ss275 or a hybrid of the two species. The dsRNA and hypovirulent phenotype were subsequently transmitted intraspecifically from Sm10T to Sm8. To our knowledge, this is the first report of interspecific transmission of dsRNA and an associated hypovirulent phenotype between fungal plant pathogens by hyphal anastomosis.     

Hypovirulence-Associated Double-Stranded RNA from Sclerotinia homoeocarpa Is Conspecific with Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Mitovirus 3a-Ld

ABSTRACT The nucleotide sequence of the hypovirulence-associated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in hypovirulent isolate Sh12B of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the causal agent of dollar spot of turf grass, was determined. This large dsRNA (L-dsRNA) is 2,632 bp long and is A and U rich (61.0% A+U residues). One strand of this dsRNA contains an open reading frame (ORF) with the potential to encode a protein of 720 amino acids. This ORF contains 12 UGA codons, predicted to encode tryptophan in ascomycete mitochondria, and has a codon bias typical of mitochondrial genes, which is consistent with a mitochondrial localization of this dsRNA. The amino acid sequence contains conserved motifs typical of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). Sequence analyses of the nucleotide and RdRp-like protein revealed that the L-dsRNA is homologous with previously characterized mitochondrial viruses and dsRNAs from other phytopathogenic fungi, and shares 92.4% nucleotide and 95.1% amino acid sequence identities with the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi mitovirus 3a-Ld from Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. The results indicate that these two dsRNAs are conspecific. This is the first report that a hypovirulence-associated dsRNA virus naturally occurs in two taxonomically distinct fungi, and indicates that horizontal transmission of this dsRNA virus may have occurred between these fungi.     

A Satellite RNA of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Mitovirus 3a in Hypovirulent Isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

ABSTRACT Two genetically distinct double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) elements were identified in hypovirulent isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the causal agent of dollar spot of turfgrass. The large dsRNA (L-dsRNA) was consistently present in all hypovirulent isolates, whereas the small dsRNA (S-dsRNA) was found only in some hypovirulent isolates. Virulence comparisons revealed that there was no significant difference between isolates containing one or both dsRNAs. Therefore, the L-dsRNA appears to be the genetic determinant of hypovirulence, while the S-dsRNA is not essential for hypovirulence in S. homoeocarpa. The L-dsRNA in hypovirulent isolate Sh12B of S. homoeocarpa was previously characterized as a fungal mitochondrial virus and designated Ophiostoma novo-ulmi mitovirus 3a-Sh12B (OnuMV3a-Sh12B) because it was conspecific with O. novo-ulmi mitovirus 3a-Ld from O. novo-ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. In the present study, the nucleotide sequences of the S-dsRNAs (738 to 767 nucleotides) in hypovirulent isolates Sh12B, Sh279B, and Sh286B were determined. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the S-dsRNA was not derived from the OnuMV3a dsRNA and it could not encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These results are consistent with biological data that the S-dsRNA was always associated with the L-dsRNA and was never found independently. Therefore, the S-dsRNA can be regarded as a satellite RNA of OnuMV3a in S. homoeocarpa. Northern blotting analysis indicated that nucleic acid extracts from isolate Sh12B of S. homoeocarpa contained more single (+) stranded RNA than dsRNA for this satellite RNA. The 5'- and 3'-terminal sequences of the positive strand of the S-dsRNA each could be folded into a stem-loop structure and the terminal 21 nucleotides were complementary to each other, potentially forming a panhandle structure.     

Genetic variation within and between southern Ontario populations of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the intergenic spacer region (IGS) of rDNA and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to survey genetic variability among 181 isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa from Ontario and 10 isolates from Japan. RAPD and IGS-RFLP analyses revealed polymorphisms within and between populations of S . homoeocarpa , distinguishing 151 genotypes. Both types of markers gave similar results in phenetic analysis of genetic distances between populations. Cluster analysis showed that Japanese isolates of S. homoeocarpa were genetically distinct from Ontario isolates, demonstrating significant intraspecific differentiation. An average genetic similarity of 0.66 was found between Japanese isolates. Among Ontario isolates, average genetic similarity was 0.86, and genotypic diversity analysis showed that 49.3% of the total genetic variation observed within Ontario populations occurred among individuals within populations compared to 50.7% between populations. Gametic linkage disequilibrium analysis within Ontario populations revealed an average 15.6% significant nonrandom associations between putative RAPD loci, and that half of the populations showed signs of significant linkage disequilibrium. These results suggest that both clonal propagation and recombination events occurred in local populations of S. homoeocarpa . The high level of genetic similarity between populations and the low levels of intraspecific genetic variation may reflect a small founding population for southern Ontario isolates of S. homoeocarpa .     

Baseline sensitivity and cross-resistance to demethylation-inhibiting fungicides in Ontario isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

Four hundred and thirty-five isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa from eight populations in southern Ontario were tested for sensitivity to the demethylation-inhibiting (DMI) fungicides, propiconazole, myclobutanil, fenarimol and tebuconazole. The isolates were collected in summer 1994 just prior to legal DMI fungicide use on turfgrass in Ontario. There were wide variations in sensitivities, and seven of the eight populations were very sensitive to the fungicides. Based on mean EC₅₀ and the distribution of DMI sensitivity, one population near the U.S. border was suspected of having been previously exposed to DMI fungicide. Pairwise comparisons of EC₅₀ values for the different fungicides showed low to moderate correlations between fungicides. EC₅₀ values of myclobutanil and propiconazole had the best correlation, followed by the pair of tebuconazole and fenarimol. Other pairwise comparisons were not statistically significant except for a barely significant relationship between EC₅₀ values of myclobutanil and tebuconazole. For field populations of plant pathogens, cross-resistance to different DMI fungicides may not be as strong as conventionally thought. The data collected here will allow comparison to subsequent years to look for detectable shifts in S. homoeocarpa sensitivity to DMI fungicides as they become more frequently used in Ontario.     

Suppression of Dollar Spot by Hypovirulent Isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

ABSTRACT Selected hypovirulent isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa were evaluated for efficacy in suppressing dollar spot of turfgrass under growth room and field conditions. Under growth room conditions, hypovirulent isolates Sh12B, Sh09B, or Sh08D of S. homoeocarpa caused 3.4 to 30.4% diseased turf in comparison to virulent isolates Sh48B and Sh14D, which caused 80.2 to 90.2% disease. In treatments that received both virulent and hypovirulent isolates, only hypovirulent isolate Sh12B significantly reduced disease as compared with the control with virulent isolates alone. In a field experiment in 1993 on swards of creeping bentgrass artificially inoculated with a virulent isolate of the pathogen, all treatments containing hypovirulent isolate Sh12B applied as a mycelial suspension, granular mix, or alginate pellets developed significantly less disease (6.3 to 20.8% diseased turf) compared with their respective formulation controls (23.8 to 31.2%). Suppression of dollar spot by treatment with mycelial suspensions of isolate Sh12B was evident up to 45 days postinoculation, and disease suppression was still significant 1 year after application when compared with the water control. Applications of hypovirulent isolate Sh09B did not reduce dollar spot in any treatments. Significant suppression of dollar spot by isolate Sh12B was also observed in the experiment conducted in 1994. In addition, suppression of dollar spot by hypovirulent isolate Sh12B was evaluated on swards with naturally occurring inoculum during 1994. Treatments with a mycelial suspension and alginate pellets of hypovirulent isolate Sh12B significantly reduced dollar spot compared with their respective formulation controls. With few exceptions, there was no statistical difference between treatments with hypovirulent isolate Sh12B and the fungicide chlorothalonil (Daconil 2787). Multiple applications of the hypovirulent isolate did not result in greater suppression of dollar spot as compared with a single application. The results indicate that hypovirulence has potential as an effective strategy for the management of dollar spot.     

Reassessment of vegetative compatibility of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa using nitrate-nonutilizing mutants

Nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants were recovered for the first time from 21 isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa collected in the United States. Mutants were selected from shredded mycelium of each isolate when cultured on water agar medium amended with 4% (wt/vol) potassium chlorate. The mutants could be classified into three phenotypes: nit1, nit3, and NitM, based on their growth on minimal medium (Czapek solution agar) supplemented with NaNO(2) or hypoxanthine. Complementary heterokaryons were observed in pairings between different phenotypes of nit mutants derived from compatible isolates, but not in self-fusions or pairings between incompatible isolates. The vigor of prototrophic growth varied with isolates and mutant phenotypes. Strong and continuous heterokaryons, as well as weak and spontaneous ones, formed depending on pairings of nit mutants. Stable heterokaryons between compatible isolates, but apoptotic reactions between incompatible isolates, were observed immediately after hyphal fusion under the epifluorescence microscope. The 21 isolates used in this study, which were previously assigned into 11 different vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) based on the formation of a barrage zone at the contact site of paired isolates on complete medium (potato dextrose agar), were regrouped into five VCGs based on heterokaryon formation between nit mutants on minimal medium.     

Evidence for morphological, vegetative, genetic, and mating-type diversity in Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

Morphology, vegetative compatibility groups, and molecular characteristics were compared among 47 isolates of the dollar spot pathogen Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. Isolates were collected from cool- and warm-season turfgrasses in Florida and the northern United States. Mycelial pigment accumulation, substratal stromata formation, and symptom development were used to separate the collection into two distinct morphological types: a common-type (C-type) and a Floridian-type (F-type). Phylogenetic relationships estimated from ITS sequences supported the morphological typing. Identification and characterization of the S. homoeocarpa mating-type locus revealed an idiomorphic organization for both C- and F-types with nearly equal frequencies of each mating types present in both groups. These findings suggest heterothallic control of mating and indicate potential for outcrossing in both groups. Dollar spot disease of turfgrass in Florida is caused by two distinct morphological types of S. homoeocarpa which may be cryptic species. These findings could have implications for disease management.     

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.     

Relative virulence of isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa with varying sensitivity to propiconazole

Isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa were collected from across southern Ontario from areas where demethylation inhibiting fungicides reportedly had never been used. Forty of these isolates with propiconazole EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.003 to 0.069 µg ml^-1 were inoculated onto creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) in summer 1995 and summer 1996 to assess virulence. Each isolate was grown on mixed cereal grains, dried, ground up and applied separately at a rate of 10 g m^-2 to 0.25 m² plots with three replicates per isolate. For both years, no spots were visible on the plots at time of inoculation; however, by the end of each experiment, there were up to 180 spots per plot with significant differences between isolates. Growth rate in culture was not significantly related to fungicide sensitivity (log-EC₅₀ values). Statistically significant negative relationships were found in both years between AUDPC and log-EC₅₀ values. These significant relationships imply that in the absence of propiconazole use, isolates that are more sensitive to propiconazole may out-compete isolates that are less sensitive. However, further study is required to determine the time frame for this to occur, and whether DMI-resistance prevention strategies can feasibly be based on the existence of resistance-related fitness costs.     

Sensitivity of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa to demethylation-inhibiting fungicides in Ontario, Canada, after a decade of use

In late 2003, nine populations of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa in Ontario Canada (seven of which had been previously sampled in early 1994, prior to the registration of sterol demethylation-inhibiting (DMI) fungicides for turf disease control in Canada) were sampled and tested for sensitivity to propiconazole. Four of the nine populations had not been treated with DMI fungicides during the intervening years, and isolates from these locations were sensitive to propiconazole (geometric mean EC₅₀ values of 0·005–0·012 µ g mL⁻¹, compared with 0·005–0·008 µ g mL⁻¹ for the original 1994 populations). Among the five populations from 2003 that had been exposed to DMI fungicides, mean EC₅₀ values were significantly greater, ranging from 0·020 to 0·048 µ g mL⁻¹. A significant correlation of determination was found between estimated number of fungicide applications and log EC₅₀ ( R ² = 0·832, P  = 0·0001), and the equation predicted that 42·3 applications of propiconazole would be needed to bring a sensitive population (EC₅₀ < 0·01  µ g mL⁻¹) to a resistant level (EC₅₀ > 0·10  µ g mL⁻¹). Fungicide sensitivity vs. duration of fungicide efficacy was also tested, and it was found that isolates with decreased sensitivity were able to more quickly overcome the inhibitory effects of fungicide application, reducing the duration of control from 3 weeks to 2 weeks.     

Antibiosis and Antagonism of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Drechslera poae by Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5 In Vitro and In Planta

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas fluorescens strain Pf-5, which produces several antifun-gal metabolites, including the antibiotics pyoluteorin, pyrrolnitrin, and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, was tested for its ability to inhibit Sclerotinia homoeocarpa (causal agent of dollar spot) and Drechslerapoae (causal agent of 'melting-out') in vitro and in turfgrass; Tn5 mutants with altered antibiotic production also were tested. Inhibition in vitro differed with the medium used, but both fungi generally were inhibited by Pf-5. In most cases, a mutant deficient in pyoluteorin but not pyrrolnitrin or 2,4-di-acetylphloroglucinol was as inhibitory as Pf-5, whereas a pyrrolnitrin-deficient mutant was less inhibitory than Pf-5 in most fungus/medium combinations. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of culture extracts showed that bacterial genotype and nutrition have an interactive effect on antibiotic production, such that conditions causing an increase in one antibiotic may increase or decrease another. The purported deficiencies for the pyrrolnitrin- and pyoluteorin-deficient mutants were confirmed. In S. homoeocarpa-infested grass clippings incubated in a moist chamber, Pf-5 reduced mycelial growth, whereas the pyrrolnitrin-deficient mutant did not and the pyoluteorin-deficient mutant was intermediate. In greenhouse experiments, Pf-5 reduced dollar spot disease incidence in bentgrass and bluegrass when sprayed over inoculated turf. In grass clippings infested with D. poae and incubated in a moist chamber under favorable conditions for spore production, Pf-5 did not reduce significantly the number of spores produced compared with the non-treated control. However, Pf-5 reduced melting-out disease incidence and severity in bluegrass inoculated with spores of D. poae under greenhouse conditions.     

Attenuation of Virulence in Sclerotinia homoeocarpa during Storage is Associated with Latent Infection by Ophiostoma mitovirus 3a

The hypovirulence-associated mitovirus, Ophiostoma mitovirus 3a (OMV3a), has been shown to be widespread in eastern Canadian populations of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa in the form of latent infection. Latent infection by OMV3a was not associated with an apparent phenotype and did not significantly reduce the growth and virulence of the pathogen. In the present study, we found that isolates of S. homoeocarpa latently infected by OMV3a can change to hypovirulent isolates after storage at 4 °C, and that this attenuation of virulence was associated with increased concentration of the OMV3a virus. Recurrent observations revealed that up to 29.8% of latently infected isolates changed to hypovirulent isolates after 21 months of storage. Transmission of OMV3a dsRNA from latently infected isolates to virus-free isolates resulted in latent infection of the recipient isolates, indicating that latent infection by OMV3a was not associated with genetic differences in the fungal host. The RNA genomes of the OMV3a virus in an isogenic pair of latently infected and hypovirulent isolates were sequenced and compared. Each of the two RNAs contained an open reading frame of 726 amino acids with conserved motifs typical of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The OMV3a RNA sequences in these two isolates share 95.1% nucleotide and 94.6% amino acid sequence identities. The development of hypovirulence from latent infection by OMV3a virus may provide new strategies to improve the biological control efficacy of hypovirulence in dollar spot management.     

Potential biocontrol of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Bipolaris sorokiniana on the phylloplane of Poa pratensis with strains of Pseudomonas spp.

Four Pseudomonas strains were evaluated for their ability to control Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Bipolaris sorokiniana on the phylloplane of Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass). The strains evaluated were Pseudomonas fluorescens (PSD-4, PSD-5, PSD-6) and Pseudomonas lindbergii (PSD-42). All evaluations were conducted on the upper epidermis of intact attached leaves of Poa pratensis and antagonism was measured as the ability of strains of Pseudomonas to prevent chlorophyll loss from leaves inoculated with either S. homoeocarpa or B. sorokiniana. All strains prevented infection and loss of chlorophyll following inoculation with S. homoeocarpa. Only P. lindbergii (PSD-42) was antagonistic to B. sorokiniana. None of the P. fluorescens strains controlled disease induced by B. sorokiniana.     

Hypovirulence detected in Brazilian isolates of Cryphonectria cubensis

A single 3 kb segment of double-stranded (dsRNA) was present in three of 30 Brazilian isolates of Cryphonectria cubensis . These dsRNA-containing isolates showed morphological characteristics suggestive of hypovirulence and were significantly less virulent than dsRNA-free isolates. One isolate, however, with morphological characteristics suggestive of hypovirulence, showed reduced virulence, but was free from dsRNA. Conversion of virulent isolates with normal morphology to a morphology associated with hypovirulence was achieved by pairing hypovirulent and virulent isolates of the same vegetative compatibility group (VCG). This suggests that dsRNA can be transmitted to isolates of the same vegetative compatibility group by hyphal anastomosis. Converted isolates exhibited the same hypovirulence-associated traits as those of the original dsRNA-containing hypovirulent isolates. These studies suggest that a single 3 kb segment of dsRNA alters both morphology and virulence by conferring hypovirulence on the pathogen; the first such report for Brazilian isolates of C. cubensis .     

Resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in wild Brassica species and the importance of Sclerotinia subarctica as a Brassica pathogen

Brassica crops are of global importance, with oilseed rape (Brassica napus) accounting for 13% of edible oil production. All Brassica species are susceptible to sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a generalist fungal pathogen causing disease in over 400 plant species. Generally, sources of plant resistance result in partial control of the pathogen although some studies have identified wild Brassica species that are highly resistant. The related pathogen S. subarctica has also been reported on Brassica but its aggressiveness in relation to S. sclerotiorum is unknown. In this study, detached leaf and petiole assays were used to identify new sources of resistance to S. sclerotiorum within a wild Brassica ‘C genome’ diversity set. High‐level resistance was observed in B. incana and B. cretica in petiole assays, whilst wild B. oleracea and B. incana lines were the most resistant in leaf assays. A B. bourgeai line showed both partial petiole and leaf resistance. Although there was no correlation between the two assays, resistance in the detached petiole assay was correlated with stem resistance in mature plants. When tested on commercial cultivars of B. napus, B. oleracea and B. rapa, selected isolates of S. subarctica exhibited aggressiveness comparable to S. sclerotiorum indicating it can be a significant pathogen of Brassica. This is the first study to identify B. cretica as a source of resistance to S. sclerotiorum and to report resistance in other wild Brassica species to a UK isolate, hence providing resources for breeding of resistant cultivars suitable for Europe.     

Diversity of Hypoviruses and Other Double-Stranded RNAs in Cryphonectria parasitica in North America

ABSTRACT Double-stranded (ds) RNAs in Cryphonectria parasitica were randomly sampled from nine subpopulations in North America using an antibody-based detection system for dsRNA. dsRNA was detected in 166 (28%) of a total of 595 C. parasitica isolates sampled by immunoblotting. Incidence of dsRNA infection within subpopulations ranged from 0% in samples from New Hampshire and Ontario to 100% in County Line, MI. Most of the dsRNAs sampled were approximately 9 to 13 kb in size. dsRNAs from 72 isolates analyzed by probing Northern blots with (32)P-labeled dsRNAs were in one of three hybridization groups. One hybridization group was widespread throughout eastern North America, being found in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Michigan. These dsRNAs hybridized to dsRNA from the previously described C. parasitica isolate SR2 from Maryland and are referred to as SR2-type dsRNAs. The second hybridization group was found almost exclusively in Michigan. The Michigan dsRNAs cross-hybridized to Cryphonectria hypovirus 3-GH2 (CHV3-GH2) and are referred to as CHV3-type dsRNAs.One dsRNA sampled from Kentucky hybridized to CHV3-type dsRNAs from Michigan. This dsRNA was probably derived from a fungal isolate that had been intentionally released for biological control at this same site 10 years previously and had become established in Kentucky. The third hybridization group was found only in New Jersey. These dsRNAs were much smaller than all other dsRNAs (3 and 5 kb) and were found in all 11 isolates that were probed; two of these isolates also had SR2-type dsRNA in mixed infections. None of the North American dsRNAs hybridized to CHV1 from Europe, even though CHV1 has been released in numerous locations in eastern North America for biological control of chestnut blight. Similarly, no dsRNAs hybridized to CHV2-NB58, a hypovirus found previously in New Jersey. Mixed infections of SR2-type and CHV3-type dsRNAs were found in 13 of 15 isolates from Frankfort, MI, while another nearby subpopulation (County Line) was infected with only CHV3-type dsRNAs. The distribution of dsRNA hybridization groups in C. parasitica thus presents a mixed picture, since one hybridization group is widespread, whereas two others are primarily restricted to smaller geographic areas.