title: Genetic  diversity of polysporic isolates of Moniliophthora perniciosa (Tricholomataceae).
abstract: The  causal agent of witches' broom disease, Moniliophthora perniciosa is a  hemibiotrophic and endemic fungus of the Amazon basin and the most important  cocoa disease in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to analyze the genetic  diversity of polysporic isolates of M. perniciosa to evaluate the  adaptation of the pathogen from different Brazilian regions and its association  with different hosts. Polysporic isolates obtained previously in potato  dextrose agar cultures of M. perniciosa from different Brazilian states  and different hosts (Theobroma cacao, Solanum cernuum, S.  paniculatum, S. lycocarpum, Solanum sp, and others) were  analyzed by somatic compatibility grouping where the mycelium interactions were  distinguished after 4-8 weeks of confrontation between the different isolates  of M. perniciosa based on the precipitation line in the transition zone  and by protein electrophoresis through SDS-PAGE. The diversity of polysporic  isolates of M. perniciosa was grouped according to geographic proximity  and respective hosts. The great genetic diversity of M. perniciosa strains  from different Brazilian states and hosts favored adaptation in unusual  environments and dissemination at long distances generating new biotypes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil. romanholobio@gmail.com
authors.forename: L F R
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: K M R
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Leal Junior
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Armas
authors.forename: F C A
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tavares
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil; D002099:Cacao / Q000382:microbiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010802:Phylogeny; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*