Vegetative compatibility and heterokaryon formation between different isolates of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum by using the nit mutant system

Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, the causative agent of bean anthracnose, is one of the most common pathogens leading to expressive damage to plants beyond presenting noticeable variability. The knowledge on vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) is of particular interest in asexual fungi as they subdivide the population in groups that can exchange genetic information via heterokaryosis and the parasexual cycle. Among the techniques used in studies about vegetative compatibility groups, the obtainment of nit mutants is apparent. This paper is aimed at obtaining heterokaryons between different isolates of C. lindemuthianum, grouping them in VCGs and evaluating their genetic variability by using the nit mutants system. Nit mutants were obtained from 20 single spore isolates. The mutants were phenotypically classified and paired for complementation and formation of heterokaryons so as to group them in VCGs. Seventeen mutants from the different phenotypic-rates were recovered: nit1, nit2, nit3 and nitM. At the same time, 10 mutants were selected for pairing and division of the anastomosis groups. Nine heterokaryons were obtained and the isolates were divided into 9 vegetative compatibility groups. In the combinations for the formation of anastomosis, 31 compatible combinations and 24 incompatible combinations were observed. It was concluded that the methodology used to select nit mutants in C. lindemuthianum made it possible to determine the vegetative compatibility groups and that such a technique was adequate to prove genetic variability.

Use of oval conidia as a tool to assess the genetic transfer among Colletotrichum sublineolum mutants

The aim of this study was to assess oval conidia production in mutants for the reductase nitrate gene in C. sublineolum and verify the possibility of using them as a tool to transfer the genetic material in this species. The mutants used in the present study lost the ability to form falcate conidia but all produced oval conidia. The number of nuclei by conidium was evaluated. Oval conidia were efficient in the heterokaryon formation and these heterokaryons in liquid culture medium they also produced oval conidia in abundance. Recombinants were obtained and the genetic exchanges were confirmed by the RAPD analyses.

O fungo Colletotrichum sublineolum agente causal da antracnose em sorgo mostra dimorfismo conidial, produzindo conídios falcados ou ovais dependendo das condições de cultivo. Conídios falcados têm sido usados para obter heterocários entre mutantes complementares. Muitas linhagens de C. sublineolum não produzem conídios falcados ou produzem em quantidades insuficientes para analises. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a produção de conídios ovais em mutantes para o gene da nitrato redutase e verificar a possibilidade de sua utilização como ferramentas na transferência de material genético nesta espécie. Os mutantes usados neste estudo perderam a capacidade de produzir conídios falcados, porém todos produziram conídios ovais. O número de núcleos por conídio foi determinado. Conídios ovais foram eficientes na formação de heterocários e os heterocários quando cultivados em meio líquido também produziram conídios ovais em abundância. Recombinantes foram obtidos e as trocas genéticas foram confirmadas pelas análises de RAPD.