Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka
<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> is an important fungal pathogen on many economically important crops including cabbage worldwide. Even though population structure and genetic diversity of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> is well studied in temperate climatic conditions, only a few stud...
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| author | Thirega Mahalingam Weidong Chen Chandima Shashikala Rajapakse Kandangamuwa Pathirannahalage Somachandra Renuka Nilmini Attanayake |
| author_facet | Thirega Mahalingam Weidong Chen Chandima Shashikala Rajapakse Kandangamuwa Pathirannahalage Somachandra Renuka Nilmini Attanayake |
| author_sort | Thirega Mahalingam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> is an important fungal pathogen on many economically important crops including cabbage worldwide. Even though population structure and genetic diversity of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> is well studied in temperate climatic conditions, only a few studies have been conducted in tropical countries. It is also not clear whether the populations are clonal or recombining in the tropics. In filling this information gap, 47 isolates of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> were collected from commercial cabbage (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> L.) fields in Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka, where the disease has been previously reported. All the isolates were subjected to genetic diversity study using mycelial compatibility grouping and microsatellite markers. Fourteen mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) and 23 multilocus haplotypes (MLHs) were recorded. Mean expected heterozygosity of the population was 0.56. MLHs were weakly correlated with MCGs. Population genetic structure analysis and principal coordinates identified three genetic clusters. Genetic recombination was inferred within each genetic cluster when isolates were subjected to clone correction. There was evidence of multiple infections on single plant as detected by the presence of more than one MCG on each cabbage plant. However, multiple infections did not increase the disease severity in detached leaf assay. We found high genetic diversity and recombination of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> population in a tropical country, Sri Lanka. Importance of detecting genetic structure when inferring recombination was also highlighted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:19:19Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-71e5241c3cb84275a720e84247439c1a2023-11-19T22:19:52ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172020-04-019430610.3390/pathogens9040306Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri LankaThirega Mahalingam0Weidong Chen1Chandima Shashikala Rajapakse2Kandangamuwa Pathirannahalage Somachandra3Renuka Nilmini Attanayake4Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaUnited States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS), Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaRegional Agricultural Research and Development Centre, Bandarawela 90100, Sri LankaDepartment of Plant and Molecular Biology, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> is an important fungal pathogen on many economically important crops including cabbage worldwide. Even though population structure and genetic diversity of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> is well studied in temperate climatic conditions, only a few studies have been conducted in tropical countries. It is also not clear whether the populations are clonal or recombining in the tropics. In filling this information gap, 47 isolates of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> were collected from commercial cabbage (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> L.) fields in Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka, where the disease has been previously reported. All the isolates were subjected to genetic diversity study using mycelial compatibility grouping and microsatellite markers. Fourteen mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) and 23 multilocus haplotypes (MLHs) were recorded. Mean expected heterozygosity of the population was 0.56. MLHs were weakly correlated with MCGs. Population genetic structure analysis and principal coordinates identified three genetic clusters. Genetic recombination was inferred within each genetic cluster when isolates were subjected to clone correction. There was evidence of multiple infections on single plant as detected by the presence of more than one MCG on each cabbage plant. However, multiple infections did not increase the disease severity in detached leaf assay. We found high genetic diversity and recombination of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> population in a tropical country, Sri Lanka. Importance of detecting genetic structure when inferring recombination was also highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/4/306<i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i>mycelial compatibility groupingrecombinationgenetic structuregenetic diversitycabbage |
| spellingShingle | Thirega Mahalingam Weidong Chen Chandima Shashikala Rajapakse Kandangamuwa Pathirannahalage Somachandra Renuka Nilmini Attanayake Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka Pathogens <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> mycelial compatibility grouping recombination genetic structure genetic diversity cabbage |
| title | Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity and Recombination in the Plant Pathogen <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> Detected in Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and recombination in the plant pathogen i sclerotinia sclerotiorum i detected in sri lanka |
| topic | <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> mycelial compatibility grouping recombination genetic structure genetic diversity cabbage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/4/306 |
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