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Genetic diversity in Hemileia vastatrix based on RAPD markers

     Centro de Investigação das Ferrugens do Cafeeiro, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Quinta do Marquês, 2784-505 Oeiras, Portugal, and Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Estudos da Macaronésia, Universidade da Madeira, 9000-390 Funchal, Portugal

Ana Ribeiro
Vítor M.P. Várzea
Carlos J. Rodrigues, Jr.

     Centro de Investigação das Ferrugens do Cafeeiro, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Quinta do Marquês, 2784-505 Oeiras, Portugal

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to assess the genetic structure of Hemileia vastatrix populations. Forty-five rust isolates with different virulence spectra and from different hosts and geographical regions were analyzed. Out of 45 bands, generated with three RAPD primers, 35 (78%) were polymorphic and scored as molecular markers. Cluster analysis exhibits unstructured variability of this pathogen with regard to physiological race, geographical origin or host. The genotypic diversity (H') inferred from Shannon’s index was higher than gene diversity (Ht), suggesting that diversity is distributed among clonal lineages. Estimates of gene diversity in Africa and Asia populations were higher in total (Ht) as compared to within population diversity (Hs). Genetic differentiation was considerable among coffee rust isolates from Africa (Gst = 0.865) and Asia (Gst = 0.768) but not among isolates from South America (Gst = 0.266). We concluded that genetic diversity in H. vastatrix was moderately low and that the genetic differentiation among populations shows that asexual reproduction is likely to play an important role in the population biology of this fungus. This should be taken into account for the development of breeding programs.

Key words: coffee rust, DNA polymorphism, genetic variability, molecular markers, population structure

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