SPORE KILLER POLYMORPHISM IN FUSARIUM MONILIFORME

Abstract

A Spore killer trait, which exhibits genetic and cytological properties analogous to those previously found in Neurospora, exists in natural populations of the fungal plant pathogen Fusarium moniliforme. The genogeography of the polymorphism in F. moniliforme differs from the situation in Neurospora intermedia. It is more akin to the situation in N. sitophila, although more extreme with respect to the prevalence of killer alleles: more than 80% of tested isolates of F. moniliforme carry the killer allele. Nevertheless, sensitive alleles are widely distributed and have been found in California, Italy, Greece and Central America.