Compatibility and Development in Ustilago Cynodontis

ABSTRACT

Intracollection pairings of single spore isolates of 35 collections from the United States, Australia, Bulgaria, France, Israel, Republic of China and People's Republic of China demonstrated that compatibility in Ustilago cynodontis is controlled at one locus with two alleles. Positive in vitro pairings correlated with infections in the host, Cynodon dactylon, which produced viable teliospores. Intercollection pairings disclosed five partially intersterile groups. Teliospore and colony morphology are not correlated with the intersterile groups. Ustilago striaeformis appears to have a similar system of partially intersterile groups.

Key Words:

• Ustilaginales
• Ustilago striaeformis
• Cynodon dactylon
• mating types
• sterility
• intersterility