No abstract

To provide insight into the genetic structure of Mycosphaerella graminicola populations in Iran, a total of 221 isolates were collected from naturally infected wheat fields of five major wheat-growing provinces and analysed using AFLP markers and mating-type loci. All populations showed intermediate to high genotypic diversity. In the Golestan and Ardabil populations two mating types were found at near-equal frequencies, whilst all populations were in gametic disequilibrium. Moreover, clonal haplotypes were identified in different sampling sites within a field in both the Khuzestan and Fars provinces, demonstrating that pycnidia are probably the primary source of inoculum. All five populations had low levels of gene diversity and had private bands. Low levels of gene flow and high genetic differentiation were observed among populations and different clustering methods revealed five genetically distinct groups in accordance with the sampling areas. The Golestan and East Azarbaijan populations were more genetically differentiated than the others. Random genetic drift, selection and geographic barriers may account for the differentiation of the populations. The results of this study indicate a population structure of M. graminicola in Iran contrasting to that of most other countries studied.

Bacterial leaf streak caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) worldwide. Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) play determinative roles in many of the plant diseases caused by the different species and pathovars of Xanthomonas, but their role in this disease has not been characterized. ICMP11055 is a highly virulent Xtu strain from Iran. The aim of this study was to better understand genetic diversity of Xtu and to assess the role of TALEs in bacterial leaf streak of wheat by comparing the genome of this strain to the recently completely sequenced genome of a U.S. Xtu strain, and to several other draft X. translucens genomes, and by carrying out mutational analyses of the TALE (tal) genes the Iranian strain might harbor. The ICMP11055 genome, including its repeat-rich tal genes, was completely sequenced using single molecule, real-time technology (Pacific Biosciences). It consists of a single circular chromosome of 4,561,583 bp, containing 3,953 genes. Whole genome alignment with the genome of the United States Xtu strain XT4699 showed two major re-arrangements, nine genomic regions unique to ICMP11055, and one region unique to XT4699. ICMP110055 harbors 26 non-TALE type III effector genes and seven tal genes, compared to 25 and eight for XT4699. The tal genes occur singly or in pairs across five scattered loci. Four are identical to tal genes in XT4699. In addition to common repeat-variable diresidues (RVDs), the tal genes of ICMP11055, like those of XT4699, encode several RVDs rarely observed in Xanthomonas, including KG, NF, Y∗, YD, and YK. Insertion and deletion mutagenesis of ICMP11055 tal genes followed by genetic complementation analysis in wheat cv. Chinese Spring revealed that Tal2 and Tal4b of ICMP11055 each contribute individually to the extent of disease caused by this strain. A largely conserved ortholog of tal2 is present in XT4699, but for tal4b, only a gene with partial, fragmented RVD sequence similarity can be found. Our results lay the foundation for identification of important host genes activated by Xtu TALEs as targets for the development of disease resistant varieties.

Co-evolution of wheat and its devastating pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola (anamorph Septoria tritici), the causal agent of septoria tritici blotch, a foliar disease of wheat, is suggested to occur in Fertile Crescent as their center of origin and, thus, interaction between pathogen virulence and host resistance is important subject to be addressed. We have investigated resistance spectra of 54 wheat genotypes including a set of differentials carrying known resistance genes and virulence patterns of 14 M. graminicola isolates at seedling stage under controlled environmental conditions. The isolates were collected in Iran from five provinces. Diversity in virulence and aggressiveness was observed among the isolates from four provinces. Isolates collected from Golestan province were virulent to all wheat genotypes from germplasm of Iran, while specific resistances were identified to the isolates from other provinces. Among wheat genotypes, cvs. Chamran, Morvarid and Hirmand had the greatest number of specific resistances as well as partial resistance. Wheat genotypes of the differential set also differed in their reactions to the isolates. Arina, Flame and TE 9111 were specifically resistant to the greatest number of isolates from different provinces. Most isolates were virulent to the other differentials such as cvs. Shafir, Estanzuela federal and Courtot indicating that extensive adaption of virulence to most of the known resistance genes (Stb) has occurred in these regions. The new sources of resistance to highly virulent isolates from Iran may also be utilized in wheat breeding programs to develop resistant cultivars against pathogen populations in other countries.

Characteristics of forty strains from macerated potato tubers and water-soaked lesions of some ornamental plants were studied in north parts of Iran. The causal organisms isolated from infected tissues were identified as Pectobacterium spp. based on their physiological and biochemical assays and confirmed by species and subspecies specific PCR and RFLP analysis of 16S-23S intergenic transcribed spacer region. Artificial inoculation of isolates to their related hosts generated the same symptoms on potato and ornamental plants, from which the same bacteria were isolated and identified. We detected two groups of atypical isolates in this study. The first group from potato classified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum by phenotypic tests but was unable to elicit HR on tobacco leaves, to grow at 37°C and to amplify the pel gene relevant to this subspecies. The second one from ornamental plants which was again characterized as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in biochemical assays, produced a unique ITS-RFLP profile different from all of known Pectobacterium species and subspecies. Our findings based on phylogenetic analysis using concatenated partial sequences of housekeeping genes mdh and gapA, indicated the occurrence of P. wasabiae as a novel species in potato storage in Iran. Furthermore we detected a distinct clade of Pectobacterium spp. from some ornamental plants including Schlumbergera bridgesii, Syngonium podophyllum and Iris spp.