Diversity in the Polish isolates of Drechslera teres in spring barley as determined through morphological features, mating types, reaction to control agents and RAPD markers.

Abstract

Drechslera teres (Pyrenophora teres) causes one of the most economically important diseases of barley. The aim of this study was to assess the diversity of D. teres isolates using both non-molecular and molecular methods. PCR analysis with specific primers showed that all of the 41 isolates collected in Poland from various cultivars in 2005-2007 were of the net form of the pathogen and the ratio of the two mating types was 1:1. Based on differences in the morphology of mycelium the isolates were divided into 7 groups. Growth of all isolates was limited by metconazole and grapefruit extract and a differential reaction to these agents was observed on PDA medium. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed genetic variability among isolates, but did not reveal a clear effect of any individual factor analyzed.