Anther smuts of Silene acaulis and S. uniflora in the Outer Hebrides, including an assessment of ITS genotypes of Microbotryum silenes-acaulis

Abstract

Anther smuts on Silene acaulis and S. uniflora from the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK), are analysed using morphological and molecular techniques, and found to represent Microbotryum silenes-acaulis and M. silenes-inflatae, respectively. This is the frst identifcation of caryophyllaceous anther smuts in the Outer Hebrides according to modern species concepts and the frst report of Microbotryum silenes-acaulis confrmed by molecular analysis from the British Isles. Additionally, the genetic structure of Microbotryum silenes- acaulis, based on all currently available ITS sequences, is analysed and discussed. Seven ITS genotypes are determined for Microbotryum silenes-acaulis, including three genotypes in North America and four genotypes in Europe. Compared to European accessions, all North American accessions share specifc nucleotides and are genetically divergent.