The use of pectic enzymes in the characterization of Armillaria isolates from Africa

Isozyme analysis has been used to compare 26 tropical African and 26 European Armillaria isolates from a wide range of geographic regions and host plants. Pectic enzymes from culture filtrates, especially pectin lyase (PL) and pectin methylesterase (PME), were particularly useful in grouping the isolates. Isolates from Africa previously classified as either A. heimii or A. mellea were compared with three Zimbabwean groups, previously distinguished by their morphological and biochemical properties. Group I isolates from Zimbabwe resembled A. heimii isolates, while groups II and III from Zimbabwe, and A. mellea from Kenya, formed distinct groups. The African A. mellea group was absent from isolates collected in Zimbabwe. Five European Armillaria species (A. tabescens, A. mellea, A. gallica, A. ostoyae and A. cepistipes) also showed species-specific pectic enzyme patterns. Thirteen isolates of A. mellea sensu stricto collected from four European countries showed almost identical PL and PME patterns, but these patterns were quite distinct from those of isolates from Africa previously referred to as A. mellea, indicating that this species is not identical to A. mellea sensu stricto. These observations confirm the potential use of pectic enzymes in grouping Armillaria species.