Molecular Identification and Multilocus Phylogeny of Ophiosphaerella Species Associated with Spring Dead Spot of Bermudagrass

• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2016.05.0437
• Publication Date: 2016-11-28T22:21:58Z
• Authors: Francisco J. Flores; Stephen M. Marek; Gabriela Orquera; Nathan R. Walker
• Keywords: Monophyly; Lineage (genetic)

Spring dead spot (SDS) is a devastating disease of bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], widely used turfgrass in the transition zone United States. The fungi causing SDS have been identified as belonging to three species genus Ophiosphaerella based on cultural characters and morphology seldom encountered pseudothecial stages. O. herpotricha (Fr.) Walker, korrae (Walker & Smith) Shoemaker Babc., narmari Wetzel, Hulburt Tisserat] usually form only sterile mycelia culture, preventing accurate morphological identification. Molecular identification has hampered by lack available sequences, presence primer‐disrupting introns ribosomal small subunit (SSU), uncertain differentiation due interspecies similarity sequences. In this study, sequences DNA (SSU–internal transcribed spacer–partial large subunit), translation elongation factor 1‐α ( EF1α ) RNA polymerase II second largest RPB2 genes from 79 isolates SDS‐associated spp. 27 locations North America Australia were resolve phylogeny Pleosporales determine an informative locus (“barcode”) for Single‐locus multilocus phylogenies group monophyletic clades corresponding , lineage with Asian agrostidis (Dern, Câmara, O'Neill, Berkum Palm) within Phaeosphaeriaceae . This distinct European isolates, which separate clade inferred polyphyly leaves generic placement uncertain. Based high interspecific low intraspecific variability gene should prove useful barcode