Formation of Teleomorph of the White Root Rot Fungus, Rosellinia necatrix, and the Potential Role of its Ascospores as Inocula

Abstract

Stromata of the white root rot fungus, Rosellinia necatrix, were produced on diseased roots although they were reported to develop rarely in nature. Forty-two (42) out of 47 samples produced synnemata while 23 developed stromata. Forty-seven (47) isolates obtained from diseased root samples were divided into 24 mycelium compatibility groups (MCGs). Sixteen (16) out of 24 MCGs produced stromata. Single ascospore isolates from 10 stroma samples produced dsRNA-containing isolates from diseased tissue beneath stromata. The frequency of synnema production on axenic culture varied among isolates with different origin. The dsRNA was not transmitted vertically to the ascospore offspring despite the infection of various dsRNA in the parental isolates. The dsRNA was absent in 35 ascospore isolates in two stroma samples that originated from the isolates, in which dsRNA was not eliminated by hyphal tip isolation. Consequently, sexual reproduction in the white root rot fungus was suggested to produce propagules as a new infection source and to have the function to eliminate infectious factors such as mycoviruses.