Molecular characterisation of Armillaria species from Zimbabwe
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Date
2003-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The British Mycological Society
Abstract
Armillaria species are amongst the most important pathogens of trees and have a world-wide distribution. In recent
years, the taxonomy of Northern Hemisphere Armillaria spp. has been extensively treated, but those occurring in Africa
are poorly known. Previously, isolates of Armillaria from Zimbabwe have been grouped based on morphology and
biochemical tests. In this study, six isolates representing the three previously characterized groups of Armillaria spp.
occurring in Zimbabwe were analysed using DNA-based techniques. Three distinct clusters emerged from both
PCR–RFLP and analysis of sequence data for the IGS-1 rRNA operon. The three groups corresponded to those
previously identified based on morphology and biochemical tests. Differences in IGS-1 sequences strongly suggest that
the Zimbabwean groups represent three distinct taxa. Isolates belonging to Group I, previously assumed to be to
A. heimii, were similar to those identified as A. fuscipes from South Africa and La Reunion. Group II isolates
resided in a clade apart from all other isolates and appear to represent A. heimii. The remaining isolates residing in
Group III clustered with isolates from Zambia and Cameroon. These are different from A. heimii and A. fuscipes and
apparently represent an undescribed taxon.
Description
Research article
Keywords
Armillaria species, Morphology, Biochemical tests, Heimii, Fuscipes
Citation
Mwenje, E. et al., 2003. Molecular characterisation of Armillaria species from Zimbabwe. Mycological Research, 107(3), pp.291–296.