RAPD analysis among Isolates of Curvularia lunata collected from corn in China

78 isolates of Curvularia lunata, mainly Collected from corn Curvularia leaf spot in different geographic regions in China, were characterized by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with 8 arbitrarily primers. There was extensive genetic diversity within these isolates. At similar level of 0. 60, all isolates were clustered into three distinct groups. 88. 0% isolates were assigned to groupl, the dominant group, whereas 12.0% isolates to the other two groups. The dominant group included most of the virulent isolates from different corn-growing areas, exhibited high similarity in RAPD patterns and low genetic diversity. However, two prevalent subgroups were distinguished within the dominant group that encompassed 68 isolates (only one isolate not to any of two subgroups). The other two groups, which mainly contained very low virulent and nonpathogenic isolates, displayed high variation in RAPD patterns compared with the first group. No close correlation was found between genetic diversity and geographic origins of isolates within C. lunata population.