Virulence associations in oat crown rust

ABSTRACT Isolates of Puccinia coronata obtained from natural populations of Avena sterilis in Israel, winter oat (A. sativa) cultivars in Texas, and spring oat cultivars in the Northern Plains states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota were analyzed for significance of pairwise virulence associations. Isolates from all three regions were tested on 25 oat lines with single P. coronata (Pc) genes for crown rust resistance from A. sterilis and one line with a Pc gene from A. sativa. Isolates from Israel were tested also on 11 Iowa backcross lines with undesignated crown rust resistance genes from A. sterilis. Four associated virulence groups were identified from significant positive virulence associations that were consistent across all three regions. Group 38 included virulence to Pc-38, Pc-39, Pc-55, Pc-63, and Pc-71; group 45 included virulence to Pc-45, Pc-46, Pc-48, Pc-52, Pc-54, and Pc-57; group 58 included virulence to Pc-35, Pc-40, Pc-58, and Pc-59; and group 61 included virulence to Pc- 36, Pc-51, Pc-56, Pc-60, and Pc-61. Virulence to Pc-70 showed the strongest association to virulences in group 38 but also showed significant association with virulence to Pc-45, Pc-35, and Pc-58. Virulences in group 61 were consistently negatively associated with virulences in group 38 in each region. In Israel, virulences to five of the Iowa lines showed positive associations to virulences in group 61 and negative associations to virulences in groups 38 and 45. Close similarity of reactions of nearly all isolates to Pc-39, Pc-55, and Pc-71 suggest that these genes may be identical or nearly identical alleles.     

Persistent virulence associations in sexual populations of Puccinia coronata

From 1992 to 1999, 18 sets of aecial or uredinial isolates of Puccinia coronata were collected from two sites in Minnesota for analysis of virulence associations. In addition, one set of aecial isolates was collected in Ontario and one in New York. Also, aecial isolates and uredinial isolates collected from scattered locations in Minnesota in 1994 and again in 1995 were bulked for comparison with populations from discrete sites. Isolates were tested for virulence on 26 single- Pc gene oat lines. Virulences to 14 pairs of differential lines were found to be significantly ( P  < 0·05) associated in linkage disequilibrium in at least six of the 24 site × year populations. The significant virulence associations were found among both uredinial and aecial isolates. Linkage disequilibria normally dissipate with repeated generations of sexual reproduction. Finding the same virulence associations repeatedly over years and locations for sexual populations of P. coronata indicates that certain pairs of virulence genes (or avirulence genes) contribute to increased fitness when they occur together, even in the absence of the corresponding resistance genes in the host. Mean virulence complexity did not differ significantly between a site with no known Pc genes in the host population and a site with low frequencies of Pc genes, suggesting little or no selection pressure against unnecessary virulence per se . Means and standard deviations of virulence complexity were similar for aecial and uredinial isolates within sites, which suggests that selection did not strongly favour either heterozygotes or intermediate virulence complexity during uredinial generations.     

Comparative Study of Genetic Diversity and Pathogenicity Among Populations of Verticillium Dahliae from Cotton in Spain and Israel

Genetic diversity and phenotypic diversity in Verticillium dahliae populations on cotton were studied among 62 isolates from Spain and 49 isolates from Israel, using vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG), virulence and molecular assays. In Spain, defoliating V. dahliae isolates (D pathotype) belong to VCG1, and non-defoliating isolates (ND) belong to VCG2A (often associated with tomato) and VCG4B (often associated with potato). The D pathotype was not identified in Israel. The ND pathotype in Israel is comprised of VCG2B and VCG4B. Isolates in VCG2B and VCG4B ranged in virulence from weakly virulent to highly virulent. The highly virulent isolates induced either partial defoliation or no defoliation. Virulence characteristics varied with inoculation method and cotton cultivar. Highly virulent isolates from Israel were as virulent as D isolates from Spain under conditions conducive to severe disease. The D pathotype is pathologically and genetically homogeneous, whereas the ND pathotype is heterogeneous with respect to virulence, VCG, and molecular markers based on single-primer RAPD and on PCR primer pairs.     

Comparative Analysis of Indices in the Study of Virulence Diversity Between and Within Populations of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici in Israel

ABSTRACT Isolates of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici (n = 260) obtained from bread, durum, and wild emmer wheat leaf collections throughout Israel during 1993 to 1997 were analyzed for virulence on a set of wheat differentials. The overall frequency of virulence increased on differentials possessing resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr3, and Lr26 and decreased on Lr17, Lr21, and Lr30. Genes Lr9 and Lr24 were resistant, while Lr18 was susceptible (98% in 1996) to all tested leaf rust isolates and Lr10 and Lr23 were susceptible to more than 78% of the isolates. Diversity between populations (years) was assessed using Kosman's H(KB) (based on degrees of similarity among distinct phenotypes) and H(KDis) (based on frequencies of individual virulences) and Nei's and Rogers' distances. The greatest difference occurred between the 1993 and 1994 populations. Phenotypic diversity within each population (year) was analyzed using the Shannon's, Simpson's, and Kosman's indices. The highest diversity within years was recorded in 1994 and significantly increased from 1993 to 1994 for all indices. The variance in the diversity between populations can be only partially explained by differences between corresponding diversities within population. The comparative analysis of diversity between and within populations over the 5 years enabled a detailed study of changes in the pathogen population. The results show that the different measures do not yield the same rank order of diversity.     

Diversity,spatial variation,and temporal dynamics of virulences in the German leaf rust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia recondita</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">secalis</Emphasis>) population in winter rye

A large collection of German rye leaf rust isolates was analysed to characterize the diversity, spatial variation and temporal dynamics of virulences. Virulence-avirulence phenotypes (=pathotypes) were determined on 23 host differentials. We found 93 pathotypes among 177 single-uredinial isolates in 2000, 201 pathotypes among 437 isolates in 2001, and 125 pathotypes among 213 isolates in 2002. In total, the 827 analyzed isolates represented 317 pathotypes. Frequency of virulences on the individual differentials varied from 2% to 97%. Eight of the differentials showed a high resistance level with virulence frequencies <10%. Virulence complexity of the isolates ranged from 3 to 21 with a mean of nine. The percentages of highly virulent isolates (>14 virulences) increased from 4 to 15% during the sampling period. A high level of virulence diversity was observed within and between individual sampling sites with Simpson indices around 0.9. Evenness indices ranged from 0.88 to 0.92. Four of the five most frequent pathotypes were found in each year but their frequency never exceeded 10%. Isolates with unusual virulence combinations could be clearly separated by principal component analysis. Location-specific pathotype frequencies were revealed in each year, but the frequency patterns varied across years. On four fields a considerable increase of highly virulent pathotypes occurred within 6 weeks during the epidemic. The high diversity of pathotypes as well as the fast accumulation of highly virulent pathotypes favour the adaptation of the pathogen to race-specific host resistances. More durable resistance might be achievable by combining new effective race-specific resistances with adult-plant and/or race-non-specific quantitative resistances.     

Virulence and Molecular Polymorphism in International Collections of the Wheat Leaf Rust Fungus Puccinia triticina

ABSTRACT Collections of Puccinia triticina, the wheat leaf rust fungus, were obtained from Great Britain, Slovakia, Israel, Germany, Australia, Italy, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, Uruguay, New Zealand, Brazil, Pakistan, Nepal, and eastern and western Canada. All single-uredinial isolates derived from the collections were tested for virulence polymorphism on 22 Thatcher wheat lines that are near-isogenic for leaf rust resistance genes. Based on virulence phenotype, selected isolates were also tested for randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using 11 primers. The national collections were placed into 11 groups based on previously established epidemiological zones. Among the 131 single-uredinial isolates, 105 virulence phenotypes and 82 RAPD phenotypes were described. In a modified analysis of variance, 26% of the virulence variation was due to differences in isolates between groups, with the remainder attributable to differences within groups. Of the RAPD variation, 36% was due to differences in isolates between groups. Clustering based on the average virulence distance (simple distance coefficient) within and between groups resulted in eight groups that differed significantly. Collections from Australia-New Zealand, Spain, Italy, and Britain did not differ significantly for virulence. Clustering of RAPD marker differences (1 - Dice coefficient) distinguished nine groups that differed significantly. Collections from Spain and Italy did not differ significantly for RAPD variation, neither did collections from western Canada and South America. Groups of isolates distinguished by avirulent/virulent infection types to wheat lines with resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2c, and Lr3 also differed significantly for RAPD distance, showing a general relationship between virulence and RAPD phenotype. The results indicated that on a worldwide level collections of P. triticina differ for virulence and molecular backgrounds.     

Susceptibility in oats to stem rust induced by co-infection with leaf rust

Induction of susceptibility in oats to a normally avirulent pathotype of Puccinia graminis f.sp. avenae was studied in the presence of different pathotypes of P. coronata f.sp. avenae . Induction occurred on seedlings only in the presence of a virulent culture of P. coronata avenae and was not dependent on time or order of inoculation of either pathogen. This phenomenon was restricted to seedlings of lines possessing the Pg-a source of oat stem rust resistance. The specificity of induced susceptibility can be used as a valuable bioassay for screening and identifying Pg-a . Induced susceptibility occurred only at the seedling stage, and apparently provides no obstacle to the use of Pg-a as a source of stem rust resistance in oats.     

1999年我国小麦叶锈菌毒性监测

采用国际通用的小麦叶锈菌鉴别寄主和辅助鉴别寄主分析了来自1999年我国不同地区小麦叶锈菌的毒性基因,479个叶锈菌株共划分为162个毒性类型,其中23个为主要毒性类型.毒性类型中出现频率最高的为FHB、PHT、FHG、THT,它们对抗叶锈基因Lr2a、Lr2b、Lr3、Lr10、Lr14b、Lr16、 Lr26的平均毒性频率高于80%,而对Lr3ka、Lr25、Lr19、Lr24、Lr30、Lr15、Lr35的平均毒性频率低于30%;发现对Lr35有毒力的菌株,出现频率为1.04%;至今尚未发现对Lr38、Lr45抗性基因有毒力的菌株.研究同时发现,不同地区小麦叶锈菌的毒性类型不同,毒性频率存在一定的差异.Lr9、Lr15、Lr19、Lr24、Lr35、Lr38、Lr45为小麦抗叶锈育种可利用的有效抗病基因.     

Mapping and Comparative Analysis of QTL for Crown Rust Resistance in an Italian x Perennial Ryegrass Population

ABSTRACT Crown rust (Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolli) is a serious fungal foliar disease of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Italian ryegrass (L. multiflorum Lam.), which are important forage and turf species. A number of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for crown rust resistance previously were identified in perennial ryegrass under growth chamber or greenhouse conditions. In this study, we conducted a QTL mapping for crown rust resistance in a three-generation Italian x perennial ryegrass interspecific population under natural field conditions at two locations over 2 years. Through a comparative mapping analysis, we also investigated the syntenic relationships of previously known crown rust resistance genes in other ryegrass germplasms and oat, and genetic linkage between crown rust resistance QTL and three lignin genes: LpOMT1, LpCAD2, and LpCCR1. The interspecific mapping population of 156 progeny was developed from a cross between two Italian x perennial ryegrass hybrids, MFA and MFB. Because highly susceptible reactions to crown rust were observed from all perennial ryegrass clones, including two grandparental clones and eight clones from different pedigrees tested in this study, two grandparent clones from Italian ryegrass cv. Floregon appeared to be a source of the resistance. Two QTL on linkage groups (LGs) 2 and 7 in the resistant parent MFA map were detected consistently regardless of year and location. The others, specific to year and location, were located on LGs 3 and 6 in the susceptible parent MFB map. The QTL on LG2 was likely to correspond to those previously reported in three unrelated perennial ryegrass mapping populations; however, the other QTL on LGs 3, 6, and 7 were not. The QTL on LG7 was closely located in the syntenic genomic region where genes Pca cluster, Pcq2, Pc38, and Prq1b resistant to crown rust (P. coronata f. sp. avenae) in oat (Avena sativa L.) were previously identified. Similarly, the QTL on LG3 was found in a syntenic region with oat genes resistant to crown rust isolates PC54 and PC59. This indicates that the ortholoci for resistance genes to different formae speciales of crown rust might be present between two distantly related grass species, ryegrass and oat. In addition, we mapped four restriction fragment length polymorphism loci for three key ryegrass lignin genes encoding caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and cinnamoyl CoA-reductase on LG7. These loci were within a range of 8 to 17 centimorgans from the QTL on LG7, suggesting no tight linkage between them. The putative ortholoci for those lignin biosynthesis genes were identified on segments of rice (Oryza sativa L.) chromosomes 6 and 8, which are the counterparts of ryegrass LG7. Results from the current study facilitate understanding of crown rust resistance and its relationship with lignin biosynthesis, and also will benefit ryegrass breeders for improving crown rust resistance through marker-assisted selection.     

1992~1996年我国小麦叶锈菌毒性动态

 利用已知抗叶锈病基因的小麦近等基因系(或单基因系)作鉴别寄主,监测来自我国12个省(市、区)的499份叶锈标样。结果表明:(1)在发现的诸多致病类型(毒性基因组合)中,PHT出现频率较高(26.6%),为优势类型,其余类型的出现频率均在7.4%以下;(2)毒性基因V2a、V9、V15、V19、V20、V24、V28、V29、V37、V38和V13+3Ka的出现频率小于30%,V2b、V18、V25、V27+31和V33+34的出现频率在30%~60%之间,其对应的抗性基因可视为我国小麦叶锈菌的有效抗病基因;(3)不同生态区的叶锈菌株,毒性基因(或基因组合)的组成特点、出现频率及多样性等差异较大。文中建议采用"固定鉴别基因+辅助鉴别基因"的复合鉴定系统,并对小麦抗叶锈病生态育种及抗锈基因分区部署等问题进行了讨论。     

Genetic Differentiation of Puccinia triticina Populations in Central Asia and the Caucasus

ABSTRACT Isolates of Puccinia triticina collected from common wheat in the Central Asia countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan and the Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia were tested for virulence to 20 isolines of Thatcher wheat with different leaf rust resistance genes and molecular genotype at 23 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. After clone correction within each country, 99 isolates were analyzed for measures of population diversity, variation at single SSR loci, and for genetic differentiation of virulence phenotypes and SSR genotypes. Isolates from Central Asia and the Caucasus were also compared with 16 P. triticina isolates collected from common wheat in North America that were representative of the virulence and molecular variation in this region and two isolates collected from durum wheat in France and the United States. Populations from the Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan were not significantly (P > 0.05) differentiated for SSR variation with F(st) and R(st) statistics. Populations from the Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan were significantly (P < 0.05) differentiated from the populations in South and North Kazakhstan for SSR variation. All populations from Central Asia and the Caucasus were significantly differentiated from the North American isolates and isolates from durum wheat for SSR variation and virulence phenotypes. There was a correlation between virulence phenotype and SSR genotype among individual isolates and at the population level. Mountain barriers may account for the differentiation of P. triticina geographic populations in Central Asia and the Caucasus.     

Variability in Virulence Among Asexual Progenies of Phytophthora infestans

ABSTRACT One hundred two single zoospore isolates of Phytophthora infestans, derived asexually from four parental isolates of US-8 genotype and one isolate of US-1 genotype, were characterized for their virulence phenotypes to determine changes in virulence during asexual reproduction. Potato differentials, each containing a major gene for resistance to P. infestans (R1 to R11), were used to characterize the virulence patterns. Isolates were also characterized for mating type, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi) banding pattern, and DNA fingerprints using probe RG57 to determine any genotypic changes in the single zoospore isolates. A subset of these single zoospore isolates was tested for response to mefenoxam to determine any shifts in sensitivity. Results showed that single zoospore isolates derived from parent PI-1 (US-8, 11 isolates) were identical to their parental virulence. Isolates derived from parent PI-191 (US-8, 29 isolates) showed some differences in virulence, mainly toward R8 and R9. Isolates derived from parent PI-126 (US-8, 14 isolates) demonstrated a higher level of virulence diversity. Isolates derived from parents PI-52 (US-1, 28 isolates) and PI-105 (US-8, 20 isolates) showed the highest level of virulence variability among the single zoospore isolates. Mating type, Gpi banding pattern, and DNA fingerprints for the single zoospore isolates were, in most cases, identical to the parental isolates. Single zoospore isolates showed different levels of sensitivity to mefenoxam. Virulence and other genetic changes during asexual reproduction are likely to play a major role in changing the race structure of P. infestans populations. This continuous change in the race structure is a serious problem and now poses a new challenge for utilization of race-specific resistance to manage late blight of potato.     

Distribution of pathotypes with regard to host cultivars in French wheat leaf rust populations

ABSTRACT Isolates of wheat leaf rust collected from durum and bread wheat cultivars in France during 1999-2002 were analyzed for virulence on 18 Thatcher lines with single genes for leaf rust resistance (Lr genes). Sampling focused on the five most widely grown bread wheat cultivars (two susceptible and three resistant) to allow statistical comparison of diversity indexes between the cultivars. Leaf rust populations from durum and bread wheats were different. The diversity of the bread wheat leaf rust pathotypes, as measured by the Shannon index, ranged from 2.43 to 2.76 over the 4 years. Diversity for wheat leaf rust resistance was limited in the host since we postulated only seven seedling resistance genes in the 35 cultivars most widely grown during 1999-2002. Leaf rust populations were strongly differentiated for virulence within bread wheat cultivars, and diversity was higher on those that were resistant, mainly due to a more even distribution of virulence phenotypes than on susceptible cultivars. The pathogen population on the susceptible cv. Soissons was largely dominated by a single pathotype (073100), whereas all other pathotypes virulent on cv. Soissons either decreased in frequency or remained at a low frequency during the period studied. Several pathotypes including the most complex one were found only on resistant cultivars, even though most of them were virulent on the susceptible cv. Soissons. Specific interactions were necessary, but not always sufficient, to account for pathotype distribution and frequencies on the cultivars, suggesting that selection for virulence to host resistance genes is balanced by other selective forces including selection for aggressiveness.     

Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Seedling Resistance to Isolates of Puccinia coronata in Oat

ABSTRACT In our previous report, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for field adult plant resistance to crown rust were identified in an oat population of 152 F(5:6) recombinant inbred lines from the cross of 'Ogle' (susceptible)/MAM17-5 (resistant). The objectives of the present study were to identify in the same population, the number, genomic location, and effect of QTL and digenic QTL epistasis associated with greenhouse seedling resistance to isolates of Puccinia coronata to determine if the QTL detected are isolate-specific and to compare them with previously detected QTL for field resistance. Reaction type was scored on greenhouse seedlings inoculated with three isolates. Composite interval mapping was conducted to identify genomic regions associated with resistance using a framework map of 272 molecular markers. Two QTL, Pcq1 and Pcq2, were identified for resistance to each of the three isolates. Pcq1, the major QTL controlling field resistance, did not confer detectable greenhouse seedling resistance when present singly; however, Pcq1 did serve as an enhancer of seedling resistance when it was combined with Pcq2. The final model explained 76.5, 77.9, and 79.3% of total phenotypic variation for resistance to isolates MNB248, MNB249, and MNB251, respectively. Race-specificity of quantitative resistance remains to be further examined.     

Inter-isolate variation for virulence in Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew) from Hungary

A total of 82 isolates of Plasmopara halstedii , collected from all production areas of Hungary between 1976 and 1993, were assessed for their virulence pattern on a standard set of sunflower differentials under glasshouse conditions. The isolates were classified into six pathogenic races each representing a particular virulence phenotype. From 1976 until 1988 all the isolates were found to be virulent only on sunflowers possessing no known resistance genes, thus classified as race 1. There was an apparent shift in the virulence of the P. halstedii population collected after 1988. Six races (1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9) were identified among the 45 samples collected between 1989 and 1993, with races 1 and 3 predominant, at a frequency of 35% each. While the increase in race virulence is undoubtedly due to selection imposed by resistant hybrids, the origin of the new races is unknown. Whether new races have arisen from the indigenous P. halstedii population, or whether they have been imported from abroad, can only be reliably determined by DNA techniques, such as fingerprinting.     

Pathogenicity of Rhynchosporium secalis isolates from Norway on 30 cultivars of barley

The pathogenic variability of the barley scald fungus, Rhynchosporium secalis , in central Norway was examined in 1994. The climate in this region is usually cold and wet during the growing season of spring barley. Leaf blotch is prevalent and causes significant yield losses. Forty-two isolates of the fungus, from naturally infected spring barley in four counties, were differentiated into 32 pathotypes by the standard differential set for R. secalis . All pathotypes were complex and had virulence for nine to 22 differentials. The cultivar Osiris was resistant to all isolates tested. The cultivars C.I.8162, Hudson, Atlas 46 and C.I.3515 were resistant to the majority of the isolates. Several differentials with various resistance genes were susceptible to up to 100% of the isolates. Isolates were derived from local cultivars with no known resistance genes, suggesting that R. secalis populations in central Norway are characterized by a high degree of seemingly unnecessary pathogenicity. Because of the great variability and complexity of the pathotypes, traditional breeding methods using single major genes are not likely to be effective in central Norway.     

Populations of Phytophthora infestans in Israel Underwent Three Major Genetic Changes During 1983 to 2000

ABSTRACT In this survey, 799 isolates of Phytophthora infestans collected from potato crops in Israel during 1983 to 2000 were analyzed for mating type and sensitivity to metalaxyl, and 324 were analyzed for race structure. The A(2) mating type, first recorded in 1983, fully dominated the pathogen population from 1983 until 1991 (9 years). It was thereafter replaced by the A(1) mating type, which dominated the population during 1993 to 2000. Metalaxyl-resistant isolates were first recorded in 1982. During 1983 to 1991, the majority of the isolates were resistant. Isolates with intermediate sensitivity (I) to this fungicide were first observed in 1993, when both A(1) and A(2) mating types occurred in the population. The proportion of I isolates gradually increased, reaching 39 to 41% in 1997 to 1998, and then declined to approximately 15% in 1999 to 2000. Pathogenicity to nine potato differential cultivars was determined for 80 potato isolates collected in 1983 to 1991, to 11 potato differentials in 173 isolates collected in 1993 to 1998, and in 71 potato isolates collected in 1999 to 2000. The first population was composed of 5 races with race 1,3,4,7,8,10 predominating (76%), the second population was composed of 19 races with race 1,3,4,7,8,10,11 predominating (63%), and the third population exhibited 42 (34 new) races with no single predominating race. RG-57 DNA fingerprinting and allozymes loci assays of 23 isolates revealed that isolates collected during 1984 to 1986 belonged to the PO-57 lineage, whereas those collected during 1997 to 1999 belonged to the RFO-39 lineage. Among isolates collected during 1993 to 1995, two unreported DNA fingerprinting patterns were found. Severe late blight epidemics occurred in tomato crops during 1998 to 2000. Of 35 tomato isolates, 28 were A(1) and only 7 were A(2). Of these tomato isolates, 94% were sensitive to metalaxyl. Almost every isolate had a different race structure on the 11 potato differentials. When inoculated onto three tomato differential cultivars, tomato isolates showed a virulence much more enhanced than potato isolates. The data suggest the Israeli population of P. infestans has passed through three major genetic changes during the past 18 years: in 1983, 1993, and 1999. The recent change included host specialization to tomato.     

Genetic Variation and Virulence on Lr26 in Puccinia triticina

ABSTRACT The genetic relationships between isolates of Puccinia triticina virulent on wheat with the Lr26 resistance gene were studied. The diversity within and between isolates of P. triticina from Israel, Europe, and the United States was determined by virulence on near-isogenic Thatcher lines and by random amplified polymorphic DNA. According to the molecular markers, isolates that were virulent on Lr26 had diversity levels similar to those of Lr26 nonpathogenic isolates. Distances between subpopulations of isolates virulent and avirulent on Lr26 varied and were unrelated to the Lr26 virulence phenotype. Cluster analysis suggested four groups, three of which were closely associated with the geographical origin of the isolates-Israel, the United States, and Europe. All four groups included both Lr26 virulent and avirulent pathotypes. The results showed that Lr26 virulent rust pathotypes are as genetically dissimilar as the rest of the population. The cluster analysis showed that the rust population in Israel includes at least two different subpopulations, both of which contain Lr26 virulent and Lr26 avirulent isolates.     

Persistence of Complex Virulences in Populations of Phytophthora infestans in Western Washington

ABSTRACT Isolates of Phytophthora infestans, collected from bittersweet, hairy nightshade, petunia, potato, potato vine, and tomato in western Washington, 1998 to 1999, were evaluated for virulence complexity as well as mating type, metalaxyl insensitivity, allozymes of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and peptidase, and DNA fingerprint with the RG57 probe. Results were compared with those from similar collections made in the same region during the 1990s. Generally, virulence complexity was high for most of the isolates regardless of year, genotype, or host. No marked shift in virulence complexity was evident for the populations studied, and unnecessary virulences were maintained. During 1998 and 1999, isolates of the US-8 and US-11 genotypes had 4 or more virulence factors. US-8 isolates averaged 8.2 and 9.3, whereas US-11 isolates averaged 5.4 and 6.3 virulence factors. The frequency of US-8 isolates that were sensitive to metalaxyl ranged from 5% in 1998 to 72% in 1999. All of the US-11 isolates tested in 1998 and 1999 were insensitive to metalaxyl. From 1996 to 1999 on potato, the recovery of US-8 increased, whereas the recovery of US-11 decreased. No evidence of new genotypes or sexual recombination was found. Western Washington was a desirable location for screening germ plasm for durable resistance to late blight due to the high frequency and persistence of complex virulences.     

Physiological races ofExserohilum turcicum in Israel

A set of differentials of corn plants(Zea mays L.) containing Ht1, Ht2, Ht3 or HtN genes was used to identify races ofExserohilum turcicum in Israel. Plants were inoculated with 14 isolates ofE. turcicum collected from various regions in Israel (from Ayyelet HaShahar in the north to Sa’ad in the south). Differentials containing Ht1, Ht2, Ht3 or HtN genes were resistant to the 14 isolates tested, whereas the inbred lines without Ht genes were highly sensitive. Resistance was characterized by the formation of non-sporulating chlorotic lesions. When plants containing Ht1, Ht2 or Ht3 genes were inoculated with relatively high inoculum concentrations (over 50 conidia/drop), chlorotic lesions were associated with necrosis in the center of the lesions. Sporulation of the fungus in the necrotic parts of the lesions was significantly less than on plants without Ht genes. No necrosis was observed in plants with the HtN gene. Our results indicate that the physiological race ofE. turcicum in Israel is race 1.