Morpho-molecular and mating-type locus diversity of Ustilaginoidea virens: an incitant of false smut of rice from Southern parts of India

Aims To characterize the geo-distinct isolates of Ustilaginoidea virens for morpho-molecular and mating-type locus diversity. Methods and Results Sixty-one isolates of U. virens collected from Southern India exhibited significant diversity in mycelial width (3 center dot 45-5 center dot 50 mu m), colony colour (yellow, pale yellow, and white), and growth pattern (thick leather mat, raised-fluffy, flat-fluffy, and raised). Field-borne chlamydospores of each isolate were significantly smaller in size (3 center dot 34-5 center dot 26 mu m(2)) compared to those formed on culture media (18 center dot 6-100 center dot 89 mu m(2)). The phylogenetic study based on internal transcribed sequences revealed two clusters; however, most isolates (n = 54) were grouped in cluster-I, indicating common ancestral origin. We also identified 42 haplotypes; among them, Hap_3 has the highest number of isolates (n = 19). Mating-type locus (MAT1) analysis revealed all sixty-one isolates as heterothallic, wherein 37 and 24 isolates belonging to MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 heterothallic mating types, respectively. The microsynteny analysis of MAT1 loci of one of the Indian strain (Uv-Gvt) along with Uv-8b (China) strain revealed synteny conservation at MAT1 locus, which is flanked by conserved genes SLA2 and a hypothetical protein in the upstream and APN2, COX12 and APC5 in the downstream of the locus. Conclusions Morpho-molecular study revealed the significant diversity among geo-distinct isolates, and MAT1 loci analysis indicated the distribution of heterothallic mating types in south Indian paddy fields. And also, complete synteny conservation between Indian and Chinese strain was observed at the MAT1 locus. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first report describing the sexuality of Indian strains of the U. virens, which would help better understand the genetic diversity of the U. virens prevailing in Southern India and aid in developing resistant rice cultivars against this pathogen population.