Sequence variation in the rDNA ITS of Australian Armillaria species and intra-specific variation in A. luteobubalina

Abstract

In contrast to northern hemisphere species, Australia's Armillaria species have high variation in the rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Isolates of the five different Australian species, five species from south-eastern Australia and one, A. luteobubalina, from Western Australia had distinct ITS sequences and PCR-RFLP profiles. Phylogenetic analyses grouped A. hinnulea away from the other Australian Armillaria species and with the seven northern hemisphere species. The 28 ITS sequences from A. luteobubalina isolates, 27 from Western Australia, gave rise to four distinct polymorphic groups. This ITS variation was not related to geographical locality, host species or mating phenotype.