Mefenoxam Insensitivity and the Sexual Stage of Phytophthora capsici in Michigan Cucurbit Fields

ABSTRACT The potential for outcrossing, occurrence of oospores, and inheritance of mefenoxam sensitivity was assessed in naturally occurring populations of Phytophthora capsici. Between 1997 and 1998, 14 farms were sampled, with 473 isolates recovered from cucurbit hosts and 30 from bell pepper. The A1 and A2 compatibility types were recovered in a roughly 1:1 ratio in 8 of 14 farms with sample sizes larger than 15. In 1997, one isolate was designated as insensitive and four as sensitive to mefenoxam. In 1998, 55% of the 498 isolates sampled were sensitive, 32% were intermediate, and 13% were fully insensitive to mefenoxam. In vitro characterization of mefenoxam sensitivity was conducted by crossing field isolates. Chi-square analysis of crosses between sensitive, intermediately sensitive, and insensitive isolates indicate that mefenoxam insensitivity segregated as an incompletely dominant trait unlinked to compatibility type (P = 0.05). Oospores were observed in diseased cucurbit fruit from four farms in 1998, and 223 oospore progeny were recovered from a single diseased cucumber. All six mefenoxam sensitivity-compatibility type combinations were present in these oospore progeny and within single fields. Based on these findings, we conclude that oospores likely play a role in the survival of P. capsici and that sexual recombination may significantly influence population structure.     

Variability Resulting from Selfing and Outcrossing in Phytophthora cactorum

Self and hybrid oospore progeny and zoospore progeny of two pairs of Phytophthora cactorum mutants carrying a metalaxyl-resistance (M^r) nuclear gene or a chloroneb resistance (Cn^r) mitochondrial gene were compared for variation in growth rate, production of sporangia and oospores, and pathogenicity. Zoospore progeny were relatively uniform, whereas oospore progeny resulting from both selfing and outcrossing displayed great dissimilarity in all the traits tested. For pathogenicity, both pairs of tested mutants had greater variation in hybrid progeny than self progeny. For growth rate and oospore production, the same is true only for the first pair, but not the second pair. The variation in sporangium production displayed by one parental self progeny was greater than that by hybrid progeny in both pairs tested. These results show that isolates and traits selected for study have considerable effect on the variation in hybrid and self progeny and suggest that different mechanisms may be operating in creating variation in these two types of progeny. Received 23 October 2000/ Accepted in revised form 11 January 2001     

Bipolar heterothallism in B-group isolates of Leptosphaeria maculans

Pairwise combinations were carried out between the eight isolates originating from each of three asci of the B-group of Leptosphaeria maculans . Some of the pairings produced mature pseudothecia when incubated on wheat straws at 18°C and under a 12-h photoperiod of blue light. Isolates within a given tetrad could be attributed to one of two sexual compatibility groups, on the basis of combinations of isolates leading to fertile crosses. Within each tetrad, mating type segregated in a 1:1 ratio, suggesting the existence of one mating type gene ( MAT1 ) with two alleles MAT 1–1 and MAT 1–2. Under these same conditions, each individual isolate from an A-group ascus originating from Brassica juncea produced pseudothecia with one or other of two compatible A-group testers originating from B. napus . However, attempts to mate these eight A-group single-ascospore isolates with two B-group single-ascospore isolates of opposite mating types remained unsuccessful. This work is the first successful report of in vitro sexual reproduction between B-group isolates, and provides evidence for bipolar heterothallism in B-group isolates of L. maculans . The implications of this mating protocol for genetic studies of B-group isolates and the consequences of this work for the taxonomy of L. maculans are discussed.     

Potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador

To determine the potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador, 13 A1 isolates belonging to clonal lineages US-1, EC-1 and EC-3, and 11 A2 isolates belonging to the clonal lineage EC-2, were paired on agar plates to induce crossing. In the first experiment, six A1 isolates (three US-1, two EC-1 and one EC-3) were each crossed with three A2 isolates (total = 18 crosses). Matings involving isolates of the EC-1 lineage produced more oospores of healthy appearance than did matings with isolates of US-1 or EC-3. In the second experiment, the oospores of 35 crosses (21 EC-1 × EC-2; 10 US-1 × EC-2; four EC-3 × EC-2) were dispersed on water agar to assess oospore germination. Overall, germination percentages were low. Only one cross produced enough progeny for evaluation. Twenty-three single-oospore offspring were isolated and evaluated for mating type; electrophoretic patterns of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase ( Gpi ) and peptidase ( Pep ) alloenzyme loci; mitochondrial DNA haplotype; and genomic DNA fingerprint. Multilocus genotype data indicated that all 23 isolates resulted from meiotic recombination. Four progeny with homothallic phenotype appeared to be unstable heterokaryons. Markers at several loci segregated according to simple Mendelian expectations for a diploid organism, but the ratios of three RFLP loci and the Pep locus were not consistent with Mendelian expectations. All progeny were nonpathogenic on hosts of the parental genotypes. Reduced mating success and reduced pathogenic fitness of progeny appear to be postmating mechanisms of reproductive isolation in populations of P. infestans sensu lato in Ecuador.     

Mycelial compatibility reactions of Australian Fusarium graminearum and F. pseudograminearum isolates compared with AFLP groupings

Using the mycelial reactions of 435 combinations of 14 Fusarium pseudograminearum and 15 F. graminearum isolates, it was demonstrated for the first time that mycelial reactions/barrage formation cannot be clearly used to distinguish F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum. Mutually compatible isolates produced very different patterns of compatibility with other isolates. However, about 60% of pairings between F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum isolates were compatible, indicating common ancestry. The Mantel tests used to determine any possible associations between mycelial compatibility reactions and AFLP genotypic diversity data revealed no association between the two systems in either species. In addition, no association was found between mycelial compatibility reactions and sexual reproduction in the two species. Implications of the higher frequency of mycelial compatibility reactions observed in F. pseudograminearum than in F. graminearum are discussed.     

稻瘟病菌营养体亲和配对筛选及其亲和能力遗传

 在白米玫瑰红培养基上对江苏省的稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe grisea(Hebert) Barr.不同小种间营养体亲和菌株配对组合进行了筛选。当不同小种的菌株对峙接种,在21±1℃、黑暗中培养18 d后,部分配对组合的菌落交界处出现一条肉眼明显可见的菌丝融合带,且具有稳定的重复性。出现菌丝融合带的配对菌株在玻璃纸上对峙微培养2~3 d后,镜检观察到菌丝融合现象普遍存在;未出现明显菌丝融合带的菌株组合经对峙微培养,菌丝融合现象未见或较少。从ZA₄₉、ZG₁、ZF₁和ZD₁ 4个小种的12个菌株中筛选出3对营养体亲和性强的小种间菌株配对组合。以所选菌株为亲本建立单分生孢子无性系,测定营养体亲和能力在单孢后代的遗传。结果是,营养体亲和能力在单孢后代遗传不稳定,与另一亲本的单孢株配对产生融合带的百分率为53%~74%之间。进一步研究发现,来自同一个分生孢子不同细胞的单芽管株与配对菌株的营养体亲和能力相同;亲和能力在单芽管株的单孢株后代继续发生分离。     

Interfertility of Two Mating Populations in the Gibberella Fujikuroi Species Complex

Gibberella fujikuroi and Gibberella intermedia(mating populations ‘C’ and ‘D’ of the G. fujikuroi species complex) can be distinguished by differences in the spectrum of mycotoxins produced, the lack of sexual cross-fertility and diagnostic differences in their DNA sequences. Some isolates from these two biological species, however, can interbreed and complete meiosis to produce viable progeny. Analysis of marker segregation amongst such hybrid progeny can be used to estimate the degree of genomic rearrangement and genetic incompatibility that has accumulated since these sibling species diverged. Recombinant progeny were isolated from crosses of the standard tester strains for these two species and from crosses between these standard testers and a field isolate (KSU X-10626) that was cross-fertile with tester strains of both species. Progeny in all of the crosses segregated for amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Segregation of AFLP loci deviated from 1:1 for two thirds of the loci amongst the progeny of the cross between the ‘C’ and ‘D’ mating population tester strains, but <20% of the polymorphic loci in the cross of either tester with KSU X-10626 showed such distortion. It was concluded that G. intermedia and G. fujikuroi are sufficiently interfertile to belong to the same biological species, but that changing the nomenclature to reflect this interfertility requires more evidence for the natural occurrence of a continuum in fertility than is presently available.     

Low diversity of vegetative compatibility types and mating type of Cryphonectria parasitica in the southern Balkans

The diversity of vegetative compatibility (vc) types and mating type was estimated in populations of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica , throughout Macedonia and from selected areas in Greece. Nearly all of the 786 isolates (94%) from Macedonia were in a single vc type, EU-12; all 379 isolates from Greece were EU-12. Only six of 20 populations in Macedonia had more than one vc type. The diversity of vc types in the most diverse populations of Macedonia was comparable with the least diverse populations found previously in Italy. All but six of the 313 isolates assayed had the same mating type, MAT-1 , and no perithecia of Cryphonectria parasitica were observed in any population. These results lead to the conclusion that sexual reproduction does not occur in these populations. The lack of vc type diversity may indicate a high potential for the spread of hypoviruses and successful biological control with transmissible hypovirulence. However, if sexual reproduction should occur in Macedonian populations, up to 32 vc types would be possible by recombination among vegetative incompatibility loci.     

Oospore Production of Phytophthora infestans in Potato and Tomato Leaves

ABSTRACT Fungal, host, and environmental factors affecting sexual reproduction of Phytophthora infestans in planta were studied. Intact and detached leaves were coinoculated with sporangia of various combinations of A(1) and A(2) mating-type isolates; leaves were incubated under various conditions, and oospore production was estimated microscopically within whole, clarified leaflets. Some A(1) + A(2) isolate combinations were more reproductive than others, whereas some potato genotypes better supported oospore formation than others. Tomato usually supported more oospore formation than potato. To induce oospore formation, A(1) and A(2) sporangia were usually mixed at a 1:1 ratio. Ratios of 1:19 to 19:1, however, also allowed abundant production of oospores. Optimal temperatures for sexual sporulation ranged from 8 to 15 degrees C, but oospores also were produced at 23 degrees C. Oogonia developed 5 to 6 days after sporangial coinoculation, and oospores developed after 8 to 10 days. Light had little effect on oospore formation in both tomato and potato leaves provided that initial lesions were established under photoperiodic conditions. Although A1 and A(2) sporangia usually were mixed before inoculation on leaves to obtain oospores, we found that discrete A(1) and A(2) lesions produced on opposite sides of the midvein of tomato leaves also induced oospore formation in the midvein and adjacent tissues. Oospores also formed when the two halves of the leaves were cut and separated at 3 days after sporangial coinoculation, which corresponded with the appearance of late blight lesions. The continuous supply of moisture to infected leaves was essential to oospore production. No oospores or oogonia formed in severely diseased plants kept at 50 to 80% relative humidity. Such plants did allow some oospore formation when kept continuously wet for 2 weeks in plastic boxes or tents. Detached leaves floated on water supported the highest sexual sporulation. Under optimal conditions of wetness and temperature, as many as 100 oospores per mm(2) of tissue were observed.     

恶疫霉有性杂交后代的生物学研究

 将2个带有不同抗药性标记的恶疫霉菌株配对,培养36 d后诱导其卵孢子萌发,从3760个单卵孢株中,获得50株带有双亲标记的杂交个体。对其中32株杂交个体的生长速率、有性和无性繁殖能力、卵孢子和游动孢子萌发率、致病力及对高温的耐受力等生物学性状进行测定。结果显示,测试的32株杂交个体在LBA培养基上均能较好地生长,有24株的杂交个体的生长速率介于2亲本之间;在LBA和SL培养基上,大多数杂交个体均能产生较大数量的卵孢子,有37%的杂交个体在SL培养基上产卵孢子能力显著大于双亲,仅有1个杂交个体不产生卵孢子;在人工培养条件下,大多数供试杂交个体可以产生较大数量的孢子囊,其中15株杂交个体产孢子囊能力处于双亲之间;被测的杂交个体产生的卵孢子或游动孢子均可以萌发形成有效的单孢株,有22株的杂交个体的卵孢子萌发率大于50%;被测的杂交个体接种在苹果上都有较强的致病力,有16株杂交个体的致病力显著大于双亲。表明在群体水平上恶疫霉有性杂交后代具有较强的生活能力,提示同宗配合恶疫霉不同菌株间的有性重组,对该种的群体遗传多样性可能具重要作用。     

Progeny derived from Thanatephorus cucumeris (Rhizoctonia solani) AG-2-2 IV isolates on sugar beet foliage show more clonal diversity in somatic compatibility grouping than those from roots and petioles

Twenty-nine isolates of Thanatephorus cucumeris (Rhizoctonia solani) AG-2-2 IV were collected from the roots, petioles, and leaves of diseased sugar beets in Hokkaido, Japan. We examined the genetic variation of the field isolates using somatic compatibility grouping of progeny (cultured isolates derived from induced basidiospores) based on analysis of hyphal anastomosis reactions (i.e., hyphal perfect fusion) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs). The number of somatic compatibility groups (SCGs) of single basidiospore isolates was strongly correlated with the host plant tissue from which the parental isolates were obtained. Parental isolates from roots and petioles tended to be genetically heterogeneous and generated plural SCGs, whereas isolates (except for two non-self-anastomosing isolates) from leaves tended to be homogeneous and generated a single SCG. Heterogeneous sibling basidiospore isolates yielded homogeneous progeny within a few generations. These findings were supported by the results of ISSR analysis, which showed that the homogeneous isolates generated progeny with the same genotype, whereas heterogeneous isolates generated progeny with different genotypes. However, like SCGs, ISSR genotypes of heterogeneous progeny tended to be homogeneous within two or three generations. Additionally, we examined clonal diversity during the basidiospore infection process over a 2-year period. A heterogeneous isolate generated a large number of progeny SCGs, thereby increasing clonal diversity. In contrast, progeny SCGs were almost all the same in a homogeneous isolate plot with a few exceptions. These results indicate that infection of T. cucumeris basidiospores play a role in the clonal diversity of AG-2-2 IV isolates, as indicated by progeny SCGs in the field.     

Assessment of vegetative compatibility of Acremonium cucurbitacearum and Plectosphaerella cucumerina isolates from diseased melon plants*

One of the most important disease complexes of melon in Spain has been referred to as collapse, sudden wilt or vine decline. Acremonium cucurbitaceaum and Plectosphaerella cucumerina (anamorph Plectosporium tabacinum) are two of the fungi implicated in this disease complex. Genetic diversity among populations of these two plant pathogens has been approached by the assessment of vegetative compatibility using nitrate non‐utilizing auxotrophs. In A. cucurbitacearum, with a host range limited to Cucurbitaceae and found in Spain and USA (California and Texas), 10 vegetative compatibility groups have been identified. Plectosphaerella cucumerina has worldwide distribution and wide plant‐host range. From a collection of P. cucumerina isolates with different plant and geographical origins, only four pairs have developed complementary heterokaryons when pairings of phenotypically distinct nit mutants (nit× NitM) were conducted. Each of the four vegetative compatibility groups consists of two members with close geographical origin and all the isolates were from diseased melon plants. Of the remaining P. cucumerina isolates, two did not produce nit mutants, two were self‐incompatible and the others were vegetatively incompatible among themselves, suggesting that this fungal species may have wide genetic diversity in nature.     

Sexual reproduction increases the possibility that Phytophthora capsici will develop resistance to dimethomorph in China

A total of 1511 isolates of Phytophthora capsici were collected from farms with no history of exposure to the carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides in 32 provinces in China during 2006 to 2013. All 1511 isolates were assayed for mating type and 403 were assayed for sensitivity to dimethomorph (DMM) and metalaxyl. The DMM EC₅₀ values ranged from 0·126 to 0·339 μg mL^?1. Both A1 and A2 mating types were detected on the same farms in four provinces and with a 1:1 ratio. Most isolates were sensitive to metalaxyl but a few exhibited intermediate resistance or resistance to metalaxyl. The segregation of DMM resistance and sensitivity among 337 progeny obtained from hybridization or self‐crossing in vitro indicated that the resistance of P. capsici to DMM is controlled by two dominant genes. Eighteen progeny that were derived from hybridization differed in DMM sensitivity and in fitness. Some progeny were as fit as parental isolates. Given the distribution of mating types and therefore the potential for sexual reproduction, the control of resistance by two dominant genes, and the fitness of hybrid progeny, the risk of P. capsici populations developing DMM resistance in China is substantial.     

Genetic characteristics of Fusarium verticillioides isolates from maize in Costa Rica

Thirty-nine isolates of Fusarium verticillioides from maize seeds from three regions of Costa Rica were classified on fertility, fumonisin production, vegetative compatibility and pathogenicity. The identity of the isolates was verified by sexual crosses with standard tester strains and by isozyme analysis. Twenty-three isolates (59%) were mating type A⁻ and 16 (41%) were A⁺; 29 (74%) were female fertile. The isolates produced high amounts of fumonisin B₁ when grown on sterilized maize grits, 32 isolates producing more than 1000 μg g⁻¹, as determined by TLC, and 7 less than 1000 μg g⁻¹. Vegetative compatibility tests by pairing nit mutants identified 34 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs), of which 29 had one member and 5 had two members. Isolates belonging to the same VCG were obtained from the same seed sample. Two pathogenicity tests with different inoculation methods were performed: on toothpick inoculation of 7-week-old maize stalks, 71% of the isolates were pathogenic according to the length of the necrosis formed in the stalk, and on sand inoculation of maize seedlings all the isolates were pathogenic, according to shoot length and dry weight production. Differences in aggressiveness between some of the isolates were recorded. It is concluded that natural populations of F. verticillioides in Costa Rica consist of genetically diverse, highly fertile and pathogenic isolates that represent a potential risk for disease development and fumonisin accumulation in maize crops.     

Population Structure of Botryosphaeria dothidea from Pistachio and Other Hosts in California

ABSTRACT Genetic diversity was investigated among California populations of Botryosphaeria dothidea, causal agent of Botryosphaeria panicle and shoot blight of pistachio, with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite-primed polymerase chain reaction (MP-PCR). We surveyed 120 isolates, 112 of which originated from the California Central Valley and included pistachio isolates (n = 52) and isolates from other plant species (n = 60). Out-group isolates (n = 8) were obtained from pistachio in Greece. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.99; P < 0.0001) between the RAPD- and MP-PCR dissimilarity data sets. Little genetic variation (haplotypic diversity [Hs] < 0.002) was detected among B. dothidea isolates collected from central and southern California pistachio plantings. We observed relatively high diversity for isolates from a northern California pistachio orchard (Hs = 0.0146), where the disease was first diagnosed, and from the Chico U.S. Department of Agriculture Germ Plasm Repository (Hs = 0.0726), where the first pistachio trees were planted in California in 1929. Isolates obtained from other hosts, especially those associated with the rare occurrence of the sexual stage of this fungus, showed the highest levels of diversity (Hs = 0.1689). Thirty-eight pistachio isolates (73.1%) had DNA fingerprints identical to 28 pycnidiospore-derived isolates (56.0%) obtained from other host species. Greenhouse inoculations demonstrated that all isolates obtained from other hosts were capable of infecting pistachio and produced characteristic disease symptomology. Thus, California populations of B. dothidea from pistachio are, for the most part, genetically uniform, with the sexual stage rare to absent. However, the rare occurrence of the sexual stage of B. dothidea on other hosts, and more importantly, the capacity of these isolates to infect pistachio, indicate that other host species may serve as sources of inoculum and genetic variation.     

Inter-and intracontinental sexual compatibility in Sclerospora graminicola

Oospore collections of Sclerospora graminicola , obtained from diverse locations in West Africa and India, were used to infect susceptible pearl millet plants. Asexual spores, collected from five infected plants from each collection were used as individual isolates to inoculate pearl millet seedlings, alone and in every possible combination to test for sexual compatibility type. Oospores were produced with some combinations of isolates but not others, indicating the presence of two compatibility types, designated g₁ and G₂ These were found in approximately equal proportions. There were also some isolates which produced a few oospores when inoculated alone. Tests for cross-compatibility were made by combining isolates of opposite sexual compatibility types from different collections. Not only were collections from within continents cross compatible but there was also cross-compatibility between isolates from different continents. The implications of such extensive outbreeding capacity in S. graminicola are considered.     

Interspecific Hybridization of Meiotic Parthenogenetic Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax

ABSTRACT Hybridization between two meiotic parthenogenetic species of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax, was investigated in two different crossing experiments on tomato plants grown in sand. The first experiment was a controlled cross between the two species. The second experiment was a bulk mating in a 1:1 mixture of two isolates. The haploid chromosome number of the parental isolates was n = 18. Successful interspecific hybridization was obtained, and the resulting hybrids produced egg masses. In eggs, cell division was observed, but most of them were without clear differentiation and consequently were sterile. Hatched F(2) juveniles were small in number, not viable, and showed morphological distortions. In the progeny of the isolate mixture of the bulk mating experiment, parental-type females of the two isolates were present in equal numbers, and 10% of all females were nonviable hybrids. Similar ratios of parental-type and hybrid females were detected in roots of test plants grown in soil from a field sample that contained a mixture of M. chitwoodi and M. fallax populations. In the controlled cross experiment, isozyme electrophoresis of malate dehydrogenase was applied to distinguish the two species and their hybrids. In the bulk mating experiment, malate dehydrogenase, esterase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were used as markers, two by two simultaneously on the same individual females, providing conclusive evidence for the occurrence of hybrids. This is the first report on interspecific hybridization in Meloidogyne. The possible role of interspecific hybridization in species differentiation and interspecific exchange of genetic material within Meloidogyne is discussed.     

Pathogenic characteristics of isolates of Aphanomyces euteiches from pea in France

Aphanomyces root rot ( Aphanomyces euteiches ) has become a very destructive disease in French pea crops since 1993. The host specificity of the French pea-infecting populations of this pathogen was investigated by inoculating pea, common vetch, alfalfa, broad bean and green bean with 91 pea-infecting A. euteiches isolates, originating from the main areas of infestation in France. These isolates were compared to 13 isolates from various countries and hosts (pea, green bean, alfalfa). Virulence phenotypes were defined according to the pathogenicity data on the different hosts: all isolates from France infected two to five legume species, with most infecting pea, vetch, alfalfa and broad bean. Four pathotypes were characterized within the French isolates: one type corresponded to broad host range isolates, the second was composed of isolates preferentially agressive on pea/vetch/alfalfa and weakly aggressive on broad bean, and two others corresponding to more specialized isolates that preferentially infected pea/vetch or pea/vetch/alfalfa. Most isolates from France were preferentially pathogenic on pea, like the pea-infecting isolates from other countries, but were less specialized than the alfalfa- and green bean-infecting isolates from other countries. These results suggest that A. euteiches isolates may be maintained on wild or cultivated legumes other than pea in France.     

Host-pathogen relationship of geographically diverse isolates of Septoria tritici and wheat cultivars

Pathogenic variability of 14 Septoria tritici isolates from different locations in the USA (California, Oregon, and Texas) was determined on seedlings of two sets of geographically diverse wheat cultivars under greenhouse conditions. Significant isolate effects, cultivar effects, and isolate × cultivar interactions were found, and a substantial amount of variation was accounted for by the interaction terms compared with the main effects of isolate and cultivar. All isolates were pathogenic on the cultivars tested but the degree of virulence on the individual cultivars varied among isolates. Linear contrasts between all homologous combinations (isolate × cultivar combination of same geographic location) and all heterologous combinations (isolate × cultivar combination of different locations) indicated that homologous combinations produced significantly more disease than heterologous combinations. The results demonstrate location-specific adaptation of S. tritici. Implications of pathogenic variability and local adaptation in S. tritici are discussed.     

Comparison of soil and corn kernel Aspergillus flavus populations: evidence for niche specialization

Aspergillus flavus is considered a generalist-opportunistic pathogen, but studies are beginning to show that A. flavus populations have strains specific to various hosts. The research objective was to determine whether A. flavus soil populations consist of solely saprophytic strains and strains which can be facultatively parasitic on corn. A. flavus was isolated from both corn kernels and soil within 11 Louisiana fields. Sixteen vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were identified among 255 soil isolates. Only 6 of the 16 VCGs were identified in the 612 corn isolates and 88% of corn isolates were in two VCGs, whereas only 5% of soil isolates belonged to the same two VCGs. Isolates were characterized for aflatoxin B1 production and sclerotial size. A random subset of the isolates (99 from corn and 91 from soil) were further characterized for simple-sequence repeat (SSR) haplotype and mating type. SSR polymorphisms revealed 26 haplotypes in the corn isolates and 78 in the soil isolates, and only 1 haplotype was shared between soil and corn isolates. Corn and soil populations were highly significantly different for all variables. Differences between corn and soil populations indicate that some soil isolates are not found in corn and some isolates have become specialized to infect corn. Further understanding of A. flavus virulence is important for development of resistant hybrids and for better biological control against toxigenic A. flavus.