Abstract
ISOLATION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION OF MYCOVIRUSES FROM ΤΗΕ PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS LEPTOSPHAERIA BIGLOBOSAShah, U.A., Kotta-Loizou, Fitt, B.D.L & Coutts, R.H.A.
Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa are closely related plant pathogens responsible for economically important diseases of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) worldwide. Mycoviruses are often associated with hypovirulence and can be used as biocontrol agents against plant diseases of fungal origin. The aim of the project is to assess the incidence of double-stranded (ds) RNA mycoviruses in L. maculans and L. biglobosa and to investigate effects of any dsRNAs on the growth and pathogenicity of the fungus. Forty-eight Leptosphaeria isolates were screened in total and five L. biglobosa isolates were found to possess dsRNA elements. Three different mycoviral dsRNAs investigated from L. biglobosa isolate C-Rox 12.8.1 were approximately 5000, 4500 and 4000 bp in length, respectively. Cloning, sequencing and sequence analysis of dsRNA 2 revealed that it is most closely related to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region of an Amasya cherry disease-associated mycovirus and has greatest similarity with members of the family Totiviridae. This constitutes the first report of dsRNA mycoviruses in L. biglobosa. The complete molecular characterisation of these dsRNAs, together with pathogenicity assays in order to detect possible hypovirulence, is in progress.
Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa are closely related plant pathogens responsible for economically important diseases of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) worldwide. Mycoviruses are often associated with hypovirulence and can be used as biocontrol agents against plant diseases of fungal origin. The aim of the project is to assess the incidence of double-stranded (ds) RNA mycoviruses in L. maculans and L. biglobosa and to investigate effects of any dsRNAs on the growth and pathogenicity of the fungus. Forty-eight Leptosphaeria isolates were screened in total and five L. biglobosa isolates were found to possess dsRNA elements. Three different mycoviral dsRNAs investigated from L. biglobosa isolate C-Rox 12.8.1 were approximately 5000, 4500 and 4000 bp in length, respectively. Cloning, sequencing and sequence analysis of dsRNA 2 revealed that it is most closely related to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region of an Amasya cherry disease-associated mycovirus and has greatest similarity with members of the family Totiviridae. This constitutes the first report of dsRNA mycoviruses in L. biglobosa. The complete molecular characterisation of these dsRNAs, together with pathogenicity assays in order to detect possible hypovirulence, is in progress.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens Conference, UK 2015 (poster abstract) |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
| Event | Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens - University of West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom Duration: 8 Apr 2015 → 9 Apr 2015 |
Conference
| Conference | Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Bristol |
| Period | 8/04/15 → 9/04/15 |
Keywords
- Mycovirus
- oilseed rape
- phoma stem canker