Hyphal anastomosis reactions, rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, and virulence of isolates representing Rhizoctonia solani AG-BI and six subsets of anastomosis group (AG)-2 (-2-1, -2-2 IIIB, -2-2 IV, -2-2 LP, -2-3, and -2-4) were compared. AG-2-4 is a subset described for the first time in this report. Anastomosis reactions within AG-BI and the listed subsets of AG-2 were generally strong but, between subsets, ranged from strong to a very weak "bridging" -type reaction. Anastomosis reaction alone generally did not provide adequate evidence for placement of an isolate into a subset of AG-2. Anastomosis reactions between AG-BI and the original subsets of AG-2 (-2-1 and -2-2) are very strong; for this reason, we propose that it be included as a subset of AG-2 (designation AG-2 BI). Subsets -2-3 and -2-4 show very weak bridging-type anastomosis reactions with all other subsets of AG-2 and thus may be candidates for independent AG status. Grouping within AG-2 based on rDNA-ITS sequences was consistent with the abovementioned subsets. However, grouping based on virulence as measured herein does not conform to established grouping patterns within AG-2 and does not seem useful as a group-defining criterion. A broad range of damage was observed among members of the most virulent subsets (-2-1, -2-2 IIIB, -2-2 IV, and -2-4), whereas other subsets (-2 BI, -2-2 LP, and -2-3) were similar to one another in causing a minimal level of damage. Group-specific primer pairs for each of the seven subsets of AG-2 were designed based on the abovementioned rDNA-ITS sequences. Primer pairs proved dependable and subset specific in polymerase chain reaction amplifications of purified genomic DNA from 109 isolates of R. solani and two isolates of binucleate Rhizoctonia. These primers will provide a simple and useful method for subset-specific characterization within AG-2 if further critical evaluations confirm their specificity.

Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG)-13 was collected from diseased roots of field grown cotton plants in Georgia in the United States. Isolates of AG-13 did not anastomose with tester isolates of AG-1 through AG-12. Mycelium of all isolates of AG-13 were light brown but darkened as cultures aged. All isolates produced aerial mycelium. Concentric rings were visible after 3 to 4 days of growth but disappeared as cultures aged and darkened. Individual sclerotia were up to 1.5 mm in diameter, similar in color to the mycelium, and generally embedded in the agar. Clumps of sclerotia up to 5 mm in diameter were produced on the agar surface. All attempts to induce basidiospore production were unsuccessful. The 5.8S region of the rDNA from isolates of AG-13 was identical in length and sequence to isolates of all other AGs of R. solani. Length and sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA from isolates of AG-13 were unique among AGs of R. solani. Similarity between AG-13 and other AGs of R. solani ranged from 68 to 85% for ITS region 1 and 85 to 95% for ITS region 2. Selected isolates of AG-13 caused minor or no damage to barley, cauliflower, cotton, lettuce, potato, and radish in laboratory or greenhouse studies.

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Isolates of Rhizoctonia solani collected from mycorrhizal orchid (Pterostylis acuminata) plants and adjacent leaf litter were characterized. Of 23 selected isolates, 20 were members of a new anastomosis group (AG-12) and the rest were members of AG-6. There were no bridging anastomosis reactions observed between AG-12 and other AGs of R. solani. Among the 20 isolates of AG-12 evaluated, 18 vegetatively compatible populations were detected, indicating diversity within the AG. Mature cultures were dark brown, as were mature sclerotia. Some cultures produced alternating dark- and light-colored concentric rings, with sclerotia forming in the darker rings. Most cultures were appressed to the agar surface. In tests run to characterize pathogenic potential, selected mycorrhizal isolates of AG-12 and AG-6 did little damage to potato and barley seedlings, moderate damage to head lettuce seedlings, and more extensive damage to seedlings of cauliflower and radish. Isolates of AG-12 have not been observed to fruit in nature, and all attempts to induce formation of the teleomorph (Thanatephorus cucumeris) in the laboratory by selected isolates of AG-12 failed.

Genetic diversity among 61 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3, representing potato and tobacco populations, was inferred from the sequenhes of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 6.8s ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. The 6.85 rDNA sequence was completely conserved not only in AG-3, but across all the AG isolates examined, whereas the rDNA-ITS sequence was found to be variable among the isolates. The nucleotide sequence similarity in the ITS 1 region was high (96-100%) for isolates within each of the two populations, but was 91-92% for isolates from different populations. The AG-3 isolates had 66 to 91% sequence similarities in the ITS 1 region with R. solani isolates of the other AGs. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS-6.8s rDNA sequence data indicated that the different populations in AG-3 are distantly related to each other. Genetic divergence between the two populations was also supported by the results of DNA-DNA hybridization studies. This study suggests that AG-3 consists of two genetically isolated groups corresponding to separate subgroups: AG-3 PT (potato type) and AG-3 TB (tobacco type). Specific primer sets for the detection of the two AG-3 subgroups were developed from the aligned rDNA-ITS sequences.

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