Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of northern ireland isolates of Phytophthora infestans

Genetic and phenotypic diversity of the population of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans in Northern Ireland was assessed from 223 single-lesion isolates collected from 29 sites in 1995 and 1996. The proportion of metalaxyl-resistant isolates was approximately 14%. The A2 mating type was not detected. Allozyme analyses revealed that the Northern Ireland isolates were monomorphic and homozygous at the loci coding for allozymes of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and peptidase (Gpi 100/100, Pep 100/100). The majority of isolates tested (156 out of 162) were mitochondrial DNA haplotype IIa. Among the remaining isolates, four were haplotype Ia, two were the rare IIb haplotype and none was of the old Ib type. RAPD-PCR analysis of selected isolates revealed relatively little diversity among the Northern Ireland isolates, which clustered separately from isolates from GB and the European mainland.