RFLP markers show genetic recombination in Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) and transposable elements reveal two sympatric species

Abstract

Molecular markers revealed that Botryotinia fuckeliana (the teleomorph of Botrytis cinerea), a haploid, filamentous, heterothallic ascomycete, contained a large amount of intrapopulation genetic variation. The markers were used to determine the mode of reproduction and the population structure of this fungus. We did not detect any differentiation between isolates from different organs, collection dates, varieties of grape, or locations in the Champagne region of France, but two unexpected sympatric populations were identified. One group of isolates (transposa) contained the transposable elements Boty and Flipper; the other (vacuma) did not. These groups differed from one another for all the other markers. RFLP markers showed that there was genetic recombination in both groups of isolates. We conclude that there are two sympatric populations of B. fuckeliana in Champagne. One species (transposa) seems to be local and well adapted, while the other one (vacuma) is presumably a heterogeneous migrant population.

Expansive Phenotypic Landscape of Botrytis cinerea Shows Differential Contribution of Genetic Diversity and Plasticity

“…1 and 2). In combination with previous genetic studies, this suggests that B. cinerea is not reproducing in a clonal manner and, instead, is allowing for extensive recombination from either meiotic or mitotic processes to generate a large pool of diversity (Amselem et al 2011;Fournier and Giraud 2008;Fournier et al 2002;Giraud et al 1997Giraud et al , 1999Ma and Michailides 2005;Munoz et al 2002;Rowe and Kliebenstein 2007;Staats and van Kan 2012). This genetic diversity and its phenotypic consequences among the isolates could be what allows B. cinerea to infect such a large number of potential plant hosts.…”

“…B. cinerea is a necrotrophic fungal plant pathogen with an extremely broad host range and is responsible for postharvest crop loss across the globe (Williamson et al 2007). Further, B. cinerea is known to have a large amount of standing genetic variation (Aguileta et al 2012;Alfonso et al 2000;Atwell et al 2015;Baraldi et al 2002;Fournier and Giraud 2008;Fournier et al 2002;Giraud et al 1997Giraud et al , 1999Ma and Michailides 2005;Munoz et al 2002;Rowe and Kliebenstein 2007;Staats and van Kan 2012). Several studies have shown that this genetic diversity within B. cinerea not only contributes to differential virulence in planta (Calpas et al 2006;Denby et al 2004;Rowe and Kliebenstein 2008;Schumacher et al 2012) but can also contribute to the development of fungicide resistant genotypes (Kretschmer et al 2009).…”

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea limits grape production in Chile

“…Based on the presence or absence of the transposons Boty and Flipper in the genome, two sub-populations, transposa and vacuma, have been reported in B. cinerea (Giraud et al, 1997(Giraud et al, , 1999Levis et al, 1997). The transposable elements Boty and Flipper were described for the first time by Diolez et al (1995) and Levis et al (1997), respectively.…”

“…The transposable elements Boty and Flipper were described for the first time by Diolez et al (1995) and Levis et al (1997), respectively. Transposa isolates carry Boty and Flipper, whereas both of these transposable elements are absent in vacuma isolates (Giraud et al, 1997). Isolates carrying either Boty or Flipper in the B. cinerea genome have also been described (De Miccolis Angelini et al, 2003;Giraud et al, 1999;Muñoz, et al, 2002).…”

The biology and potential for genetic research of transposable elements in filamentous fungi

“…Transposons have been used to distinguish genetically divergent populations because they can mark specific genotypes that have a common ancestor (Dobinson et al, 1993;Giraud et al, 1997;He et al, 1996;Kachroo et al, 1994;Mouyna et al, 1996;Shull and Hamer, 1996;Zhu and Oudemans, 2000). In F. oxysporum f. sp.…”