Initial characterization of an unidentified Armillaria isolate from Serbia using LSU‐IGS1 and TEF‐1‐α genes. Issue 2 (22nd July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Keča, N.; Klopfenstein, N. B.; Kim, M.‐S.; Solheim, H.; Woodward, S.; Holdenrieder, O.
• Is Part Of: Forest pathology. Volume 45:Issue 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 120
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2014-07-22
• Subjects: Trees -- Diseases and pests -- Periodicals; Trees -- Effect of air pollution on -- Periodicals; Forests and forestry -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 634.9
• DOI: 10.1111/efp.12135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1437-4781

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="efp12135-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <italic>Armillaria</italic> species have a global distribution and play variable ecological roles, including causing root disease of diverse forest, ornamental and horticultural trees. Accurate identification of <italic>Armillaria</italic> species is critical to understand their distribution and ecological roles. This work focused on characterizing an unidentified <italic>Armillaria</italic> isolate from a Serbian forest using pairing, sequencing of the partial large subunit and intergenic spacer‐1 regions of rDNA (LSU‐IGS1) and the translation elongation factor‐1 alpha gene (<italic>tef‐1α</italic>) genes, and phylogenetic analyses. Despite previously obtained LSU‐IGS1 RFLP patterns that matched the newly described North American <italic>Armillaria altimontana</italic>, pairing tests and phylogenetic analyses of LSU‐IGS1 and <italic>tef‐1α</italic> sequences clearly demonstrate that the unidentified isolate is not <italic>A. altimontana</italic>. Based on LSU‐IGS1, <italic>Armillaria gallica</italic> isolates were polyphyletic, and the Serbian isolate clustered with a subset of European <italic>A</italic>. <italic>gallica</italic> isolates within a well‐supported clade (99%). Based on <italic>tef‐1α</italic><italic>, </italic> the Serbian isolate appeared as a separate, well‐supported clade (97%) that was basal to other poorly resolved, polyphyletic clades containing European <italic>A</italic>. <italic>gallica</italic> isolates. It is speculated that the unidentified <italic>Armillaria</italic> isolate from Serbia could represent an evolutionary ancestral state because of its separate, basal position compared with other clades comprising polyphyletic European <italic>A</italic>. <italic>gallica</italic> isolates. Alternatively, this unidentified Serbian isolate could represent an unusual hybrid because of its high‐level sequence heterogeneity, represented by multiple two‐nucleotide codes, within <italic>tef‐1α</italic>. Further characterization is needed to confirm the taxonomic status and ecological/evolutionary significance of this unique, unknown <italic>Armillaria</italic> isolate from Serbia.</p> </abstract>