Novel gene-sequence markers for isolate tracking within Monilinia fructicola lesions.
BACKGROUND
Monilinia fructicola is a diverse pathogen of pome and stone fruits that causes severe economic losses each year. However, little is known about inoculum flow within or between orchards and pathogen establishment in an orchard, because few methods exist for detecting diversity or tracking isolates over time. SSR loci are an effective option, but may be confounded by a high degree of mutability and potential sensitivity to abiotic stress.


RESULTS
Through transcriptome analysis, we identified novel markers mrr1, DHFR and MfCYP01 and validated stability of these markers under fungicide stress in natural infection sites. Nucleotide variation within mrr1, DHFR and MfCYP01 sequences differentiated isolates at all spatial scales: within the same infection site, between trees and between two farms. Sequenced regions were also effective for matching isolates collected from blossoms at the beginning of the season to progeny in cankers obtained at the end of the season.


CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, results show that mrr1, DHFR and MfCYP01 are able to accurately differentiate M. fructicola isolates at the population level, can be used to track isolates over time, and are more stable than SSRs under external stresses. Either by themselves or combined with SSR markers, these gene-encoding regions are a much-needed tool for better understanding M. fructicola population dynamics. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
Madeline E
ME
Dowling
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
Guido
G
Schnabel
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
Harriet G
HG
Boatwright
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Sydney E
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5773-1280
SE
Everhart
D001203:Ascomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology
D005819:Genetic Markers
Prunus persica; SSR markers; brown rot; epidemiology; peach trees