This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lygis, V. Articles by Stenlid, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lygis, V. Articles by Stenlid, J. Agricola Articles by Lygis, V. Articles by Stenlid, J.

Clonality in the postfire root rot ascomycete Rhizina undulata

     Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden

The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential for territorial and dispersive clonality in natural populations of the postfire root rot ascomycete Rhizina undulata. Population studies based on vegetative compatibility tests were done with strains isolated from individual sporocarps at five burned sites in three different localities (separated by 20–40 km) in the Curronian Spit of western Lithuania. Among a total of 103 strains, the tests identified 14 distinct vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) of R. undulata, 13 of which were represented by 2–48 strains and three were encountered at 2–4 different sites. Occurrence on spatially separated sites of the same VCG of the fungus indicated a presence of dispersive clonality in R. undulata populations. On a local scale clusters of vegetative compatible sporocarps usually occupied discrete territories, implying territorial clonality. The two largest VCGs covered areas up to 7 and 3 m across. The results show that both dispersive and territorial clones are characteristics of natural populations of the fungus.

Key words: ascomycetes, clone, population structure, root pathogens, soil-borne fungi, vegetative compatibility group