Isozyme Characterization of Ascosphaerales Associated with Bees. I. Ascosphaera Apis, Ascosphaera Proliperda, and Ascosphaera Aggregata

ABSTRACT

Acrylamide gel electrophoretic studies were conducted to characterize three chalkbrood fungi associated with bees. Of 28 enzyme assays, acrylamide gel electrophoresis detected 12 enzymes and 285 isozymes. Indices of genetic identity and genetic distance were computed. Proteins showed distinct isozyme profiles. Intraspecific genetic similarities were greater than interspecific ones, but some intraspecific variation was also apparent. Esterase isozyme patterns of chalkbrood fungi, isolated from the alfalfa leafcutting bee in the western United States, were identical to those of Ascosphaera aggregata. Isozyme patterns of A. apis, A. proliperda, and A. aggregata support the current concept of three separate species.

Key Words:

• chalkbrood fungi
• Ascosphaerales
• bee diseases
• isozyme analyses