Molecular Characterization and Genetic Variation in Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halst. on Pomegranate

Navyashree Sailapura Erakyathappa; Devappa Venkatappa; Sangeetha Chittarada Gopal; Shankarappa Sridhara; Honnabyraiah Madhapura Kalaiah; Jayashree Ugalat

doi:10.3390/jof8121276

Molecular Characterization and Genetic Variation in Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halst. on Pomegranate

J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Dec 5;8(12):1276. doi: 10.3390/jof8121276.

Authors

Navyashree Sailapura Erakyathappa¹, Devappa Venkatappa¹, Sangeetha Chittarada Gopal¹, Shankarappa Sridhara², Honnabyraiah Madhapura Kalaiah³, Jayashree Ugalat⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot 560 065, India.
² Center for Climate Resilient Agriculture, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga 577 201, India.
³ Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Mysuru, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot 571 130, India.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology and Crop Improvement, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot 560 065, India.

Abstract

Fifteen isolates of Ceratocystis fimbriata collected from different locations in Karnataka were characterized using ITS gene technology. It produced an amplification size of 600−650 bp, which indicated that all the isolates belong to the genus Ceratocystis, thus confirming the identity of the pathogenic isolates. To test genetic variability, isolates were analyzed using microsatellite markers. An UPGMA dendrogram for genetic variation among the isolates showed that all the isolates fell into two major clusters. The first cluster consisted of isolate Cf-10 and the second cluster was further divided into two sub-clusters. Sub-cluster one consisted of isolate Cf-2. Sub-cluster two was again divided into five groups. The first group included isolate Cf-13, the second group consisted of isolate Cf-14, the third group included isolates Cf-1, Cf-4, Cf-6, Cf-7, Cf-8 and Cf-9, the fourth group included Cf-5 and Cf-11, and the fifth group consisted of Cf-3, Cf-12 and Cf-15. The dissimilarity coefficient ranged from 0.00 to 0.20 among the isolates. Isolates Cf-1, Cf-3, Cf-4, Cf-5 Cf-6, Cf-7, Cf-8, Cf-9, Cf-11, Cf-12 and Cf-15 were found to be highly similar, as their dissimilarity coefficient was zero. Maximum dissimilarity (0.20) was found between isolate Cf-10 and all the other isolates, suggesting they were genetically distinct.

Keywords: Ceratocystis fimbriata; ITS primers; characterization; variability.

Grants and funding

The authors are deeply indebted to the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship granted to Navyashree Sailapura Erakyathappa (No. DST/INSPIRE Fellowship/2018/IF180653) from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, for the financial assistance that allowed us to carry out this work.