Abstract
The canker disease caused by Leucostoma cinctum is one of the most destructive diseases in fruit trees in Iran. For investigation of mycelial/sexual compatibility in L. cinctum, 64 isolates from 10 different plants, and 11 provinces of Iran were used. Isolates were crossed in all possible combinations on PDA at 25 °C for mycelial compatibility, and 14 multi-merge MCGs were identified among the isolates, revealing the average genetic diversity. In vitro sexual reproduction of the fungus was assessed using 14 ascospore progeny of two different perithecia, and the isolates were crossed in all possible pairwise combinations on culture media amended by different sterilized twigs. In four crosses on oatmeal agar with 2.5% sucrose, and apricot twigs, fertile perithecia were formed after 5 months, confirming heterothallic nature of the L. cinctum. Also, this is the first report of the in vitro viable sexual reproduction of the L. cinctum in the world.
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