Differences in Saprophytic Growth, Virulence, Genomes, and Secretomes of Ilyonectria robusta and I. mors-panacis Isolates from Roots of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

Abstract

A comparison of the virulence, saprophytic growth, and genomes of 12 isolates of Ilyonectria mors-panacis and 4 isolates of I. robusta from Canada pathogenic to Panax quinquefolius was made. There were no significant differences in the average lesion size on detached roots between isolates of the two Ilyonectria species or isolates that originated from infected roots in first- or second-crop ginseng soils. This did not support the hypotheses that I. mors-panacis is always more virulent than I. robusta or that there is selection for higher virulence during the first crop. However, the average growth rate on potato dextrose agar for I. robusta was significantly greater than that of I. mors-panacis, and the average total genome size of I. robusta isolates was significantly smaller with a significantly higher GC content. On dendrograms based on nucleotide sequences of all predicted exons of the genomes, I. robusta isolates were distinguishable from I. mors-panacis isolates, which were similar but could be separated into types 1 and 2. The difference between type 1 and type 2 I. mors-panacis was not related to geographical origin, virulence, growth rate, or mating type. However, the division was also observed for the total predicted secretome, most notably small secreted cysteine-rich proteins and secreted proteases, indicating that type 1 and 2 isolates of I. mors-panacis may interact differently with their environment.