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Identification mating-type locus structure and distribution of Cochliobolus lunatus in China

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Abstract

Cochliobolus lunatus (teleomorph: Curvularia lunata) is an important plant pathogenic fungus that causes the maize foliar spot, resulting in serious yield losses. In ascomycetes, a single mating-type (MAT) locus with two idiomorphs controls sexual development. The structure and arrangement of the MAT genes were examined to understand the MAT locus of C. lunatus. MAT loci were MAT1–1-1 or MAT1–2-1, flanked upstream and downstream by regions encoding GTPase activating protein, pyridoxamine phosphate oxidase domain, and β-glucosidase. A MAT1–1 or MAT1–2 idiomorph was identified in single isolate, and sexual reproduction in vitro indicated that the species was heterothallic. In vitro crossing between isolates with opposite MATs produced perithecia, asci, and ascospores. A multiplex MAT-specific PCR method was developed and used to test mating-type genes in 177 C.lunatus isolates collected from China. The ratio of isolates of each mating-type in China was consistent with a 1:1 ratio.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number 31271992) and China Agriculture Research System (Grant number CARS-02).

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  1. Yuan Y. Lu, Ke X. Liu and Guo F. Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110866, China

    Yuan Y. Lu, Ke X. Liu, Guo F. Li, Li B. Yan, Shu Q. Xiao & Chun S. Xue

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  1. Yuan Y. Lu
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  2. Ke X. Liu
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  3. Guo F. Li
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  4. Li B. Yan
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Correspondence to Chun S. Xue.

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I would like to declare on behalf of my co-authors that the work described was original research that has not been published previously, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. All the authors listed have approved the manuscript that is enclosed.

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No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript, and manuscript is approved by all authors for publication.

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Research did not involving Human Participants and/or Animals.

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Lu, Y.Y., Liu, K.X., Li, G.F. et al. Identification mating-type locus structure and distribution of Cochliobolus lunatus in China. Eur J Plant Pathol 151, 487–500 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-017-1393-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-017-1393-4

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