VIEW ARTICLE

Molecular Plant Pathology

Genetic Diversity of Rhizoctonia solani Anastomosis Group 2. Z. L. Liu, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801-4709; J. B. Sinclair, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801-4709. Phytopathology 82:778-787. Accepted for publication 13 April 1992. Copyright 1992 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-82-778.

Genetic diversity among 70 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG) 2 was studied by isozyme polymorphism and DNA restriction analyses. Five genetically distinct intraspecific groups (ISGs) (ISG 2A [9 isolates], 2B [13 isolates], 2C [22 isolates], 2D [14 isolates], and 2E [12 isolates]) were distinguished within AG 2 based on binary characters of isozyme alleles and restriction sites by using numerical cladistic analysis with isolate ISG 1C19 (AG 1-IC type) as an outgroup. Isozyme phenotypes were developed for these groups. Some isozyme alleles and loci were identified as useful molecular markers for population studies. DNA restriction mapping showed that these groups shared the same gene of mitochondrial small subunit rDNA and a high level of similarity in nuclear rDNA for internal transcribed spacers (ITS), including the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA fragments varied for the five groups. In the ITS region, groups 2A and 2E had the same lengths (0.69 kb) but differed at one EcoRI site; groups 2B, 2C, and 2D had the same lengths (0.74 kb) but differed from one another by at least one restriction site, MspI or TaqI. ISG 2A corresponded to AG 2-1; 2B to AG 2-2 IIIB; 2C to AG 2-2 IV; 2D to a newly defined group related to AG 2-2; and 2E to a newly defined group, previously identified as AG 2-2, related to AG 2-1. When evaluated from a single source and developed at different levels, ISGs 2A and 2E were closely related, and ISGs 2B–D were closely related. The merits of using isozyme and DNA analyses for the study of R. solani populations or ISGs are discussed.