Population structure and possible origin of Amylostereum areolatum in South Africa

The woodwasp, Sirex noctilio , and its symbiotic fungus, Amylostereum areolatum , cause extensive damage to pine plantations in the Southern Hemisphere. S. noctilio was first reported from South Africa in 1994. In this study, the population diversity of A. areolatum isolates from South Africa, South America, Australasia and Europe was determined by vegetative incompatibility testing. All 108 South African and 26 South American isolates belonged to the same vegetative compatibility group (VCG). This VCG showed a weak incompatibility reaction with the single Tasmanian and single New Zealand isolates tested. This VCG differed from VCGs from Europe. It also differed from isolates associated with the biocontrol nematode, Deladenus siricidicola , which is produced in Australia. It is concluded that the South African and South American populations of A. areolatum share a common origin .