Mauricio Marín

Genetic diversity of Phytophthora infestans in the Northern Andean region

BackgroundPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, the causal agent of potato late blight, is responsible for tremendous crop losses worldwide. Countries in the northern part of the Andes dedicate a large proportion of the highlands to the production of potato, and more recently, solanaceous fruits such as cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and tree tomato (Solanum betaceum), all of which are hosts of this oomycete. In the Andean region, P. infestans populations have been well characterized in Ecuador and Peru, but are poorly understood in Colombia and Venezuela. To understand the P. infestans population structure in the Northern part of the Andes, four nuclear regions (ITS, Ras, β-tubulin and Avr3a) and one mitochondrial (Cox1) region were analyzed in isolates of P. infestans sampled from different hosts in Colombia and Venezuela.ResultsLow genetic diversity was found within this sample of P. infestans isolates from crops within several regions of Colombia and Venezuela, revealing the presence of clonal populations of the pathogen in this region. We detected low frequency heterozygotes, and their distribution patterns might be a consequence of a high migration rate among populations with poor effective gene flow. Consistent genetic differentiation exists among isolates from different regions.ConclusionsThe results here suggest that in the Northern Andean region P. infestans is a clonal population with some within-clone variation. P. infestans populations in Venezuela reflect historic isolation that is being reinforced by a recent self-sufficiency of potato seeds. In summary, the P. infestans population is mainly shaped by migration and probably by the appearance of variants of key effectors such as Avr3a.

New Ceratocystis species infecting coffee, cacao, citrus and native trees in Colombia

Ceratocystis fimbriata sensu lato includes a large number of plant and especially tree pathogens. In Colombia, isolates of this fungus cause a serious canker-stain disease on coffee as well as other fruit trees. Large collections of these isolates have been shown to occur in two distinct phylogenetic lineages based on ITS sequence comparisons. The aim of this study was to compare representatives of these two groups of isolates from coffee, citrus, cacao and native trees in Colombia, based on morphology and DNA-sequences for three gene regions. Host-specificity of the fungus was also considered. Representatives of the two groups of isolates were morphologically distinct and could be distinguished based on DNA sequence comparisons. They are also distinct from other species in the C. fimbriata sensu lato species complex and the sweet potato pathogen C. fimbriata sensu stricto and are provided with the names C. colombiana sp. nov and C. papillata sp. nov. There was no evidence for host-specificity amongst isolates of these two fungi that collectively represent a serious threat to coffee production in Colombia.

Phenotypic and DNA sequence data comparisons reveal three discrete species in the Ceratocystis polonica species complex

Ceratocystis polonica and C. laricicola are two morphologically similar species that occur on conifers and reside in the Ceratocystis coerulescens species complex. They, however, represent two ecologically distinct entities. C. polonica causes blue stain on Norway spruce (Picea abies) and other spruce species (Picea spp.) in Eurasia and is associated with the bark beetles Ips typographus, I. typographus japonicus, I. amitinus and I. duplicatus. In contrast, C. laricicola lives in a symbiotic relationship with the bark beetles Ips cembrae and I. subelongatus that infest various larch species (Larix spp.). The objective of this study was to consider the phylogenetic relationships of C. polonica and C. laricicola and more specifically to determine the identity of Japanese isolates from both spruce and larch, based on sequences derived from the ITS regions of the rRNA operon, the beta-tubulin gene and the HMG box of the MAT-2 gene. Isolates were also compared based on morphology and cultural characteristics. Comparisons of anamorph and teleomorph structures confirmed that C. polonica and C. laricicola are indistinguishable based on morphology. Both species had an optimal growth temperature of 25 degrees C. However, at temperatures between 31-33 degrees, C. polonica isolates grew slowly or not at all, while C. laricicola isolates grew more actively at these temperatures. Thus, a growth test at 32 degrees can differentiate these species. Phylograms generated using parsimony for the three gene regions were strongly congruent. These showed three distinct clades supported by high bootstrap values. Two of the clades clearly separate C. laricicola from Europe and C. polonica, supporting the view that they represent two discrete taxa. A third clade included isolates obtained from galleries of Ips subelongatus on Larix kaempferi in Japan. This fungus clearly represents a discrete taxon that is closely related to, but distinct from C. laricicola, which is described here as C. fujiensis sp. nov.

Detection of a complex of viruses in tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) orchards in the Andean region of Colombia

Tamarillo is one of the main fruit crops in the Andean region of Colombia. However, due to expansion of viral diseases, the cultivated area has undergone a rapid decline during recent years. In this work, we report the taxonomical identity of some of the viruses present in the main tamarillo producing regions in Colombia. The presence of AMV, CMV, PLRV, Potyvirus, ToMV, ToRSV and TSWV was evaluated by ELISA in the provinces of Antioquia, Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Narino and Putumayo. These results were complemented with RT-PCR and cDNA sequencing of the corresponding coat regions. Potyvirus, CMV and PLRV are the most predominant viruses, each virus being detected in at least one sample. Sequencing results revealed high levels of identity of PVY and PLRV from tamarillo with virus strains from potato crops, suggesting the possibility of cross infection. Our findings confirm that a virus complex is responsible for the decline of tamarillo productivity in Colombia.

Mitochondrial genome sequence of the potato powdery scab pathogen Spongospora subterranea

Abstract Spongospora subterranea is a soil-borne obligate parasite responsible for potato powdery scab disease. S. subterranea is a member of the order Plasmodiophorida, a protist taxa that is related to Cercozoa and Foraminifera but the fine details of these relationships remain unresolved. Currently there is only one available complete mtDNA sequence of a cercozoan, Bigelowiella natans. In this work, the mitochondrial sequence of a S. subterranea isolate infecting an Andean variety of S. tuberosum ssp. andigena (Diacol-Capiro) is presented. The mtDNA codes for 16 proteins of the respiratory chain, 11 ribosomal proteins, 3 ribosomal RNAs, 24 tRNAs, a RNA processing RNaseP, a RNA-directed polymerase, and two proteins of unknown function. This is the first report of a mtDNA genome sequence from a plasmodiophorid and will be useful in clarifying the phylogenetic relationship of this group to other members in the supergroup Rhizaria once more mtDNA sequences are available.

Uso de esquejes de tallo lateral para evaluar la resistencia de genotipos de Solanum phureja a Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea

In order to evaluate the resistance to Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea on 105 genotypes of Solanum phureja (local name in Colombia papa criolla), bioassays were conducted through propagation by lateral stem cuttings. Inoculation was performed with a 1 x 106 sporeballs mL-1 solution. The level of resistance or susceptibility of each genotype to the pathogen was determined at three different times: 1) At 15 days after inoculation (DAI), the presence of zoosporangia was evaluated in roots under optical microscopy; 2) At flowering, the presence of galls was observed in roots and 3) At harvest, the tubers were screened for the detection of pustules. Asymptomatic plants, (i.e. plants seemingly without pathogen´s structures or disease symptoms) were evaluated by PCR using specific primers. At 15 DAI it was not possible to determine the degree of resistance in the genotypes and later there were no disease symptoms on tubers. Nevertheless, disease was detectable through gall formation on roots at the flowering stage. The most susceptible genotype was Criolla Colombia. Thirty genotypes, including the commercial variety Criolla Paisa, were highly resistant and presented neither pathogen´s structures nor symptoms.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the common bean anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum

Abstract Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is the causal agent of anthracnose in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), one of the most limiting factors for this crop in South and Central America. In this work, the mitochondrial sequence of a Colombian isolate of C. lindemuthianum obtained from a common bean plant (var. Cargamanto) with anthracnose symptoms is presented. The mtDNA codes for 13 proteins of the respiratory chain, 1 ribosomal protein, 2 homing endonucleases, 2 ribosomal RNAs and 28 tRNAs. This is the first report of a complete mtDNA genome sequence from C. lindemuthianum