Molecular profiling demonstrates limited diversity amongst geographically separate strains ofUstilago scitaminea

Intraspecies diversity within Ustilago scitaminea isolates from South Africa, Reunion Island, Hawaii and Guadeloupe was assessed by RAPDs, bE mating-type gene detection, rDNA sequence analysis, microscopy and germination and morphological studies. Except for sequence data, the other analyses yielded no differences in the isolates that could be used in a phylogenetic separation. Mycelial DNA of the SA isolate shared 100% sequence identity with that of mycelial DNA cultured from in vitro produced teliospores of the parent cultivar. Overall the ITS1 and ITS2 regions were found to have 96.1% and 96.9% sequence identity with a total of 17 and 21 base changes, respectively, amongst the isolates. The Reunion Island isolate was shown to be most distantly related by 3.6% to the other isolates, indicating a single clonal lineage. The lack of germination in teliospores from Guadeloupe may be attributed to changes in temperature and humidity during transportation.