Hanna, J.W., Klopfenstein,
N.B., Kim, M.-S., McDonald, G.I., and
Intraspecific and intragenomic
variation of Armillaria ostoyae were observed through sequencing of
ribosomal DNA (rDNA) including nuclear large ribosomal subunit (nLSU), internal
transcribed spacer (ITS), 5.8S rDNA, and intergenic spacer (IGS-1). Many of the A. ostoyae genets
contained heterogeneous sequences, an indication of intragenomic
variation/intraspecific hybridization. Intragenomic variation was verified by visual analysis of
sequence chromatograms and PCR with specific internal primers. Intraspecific
and intragenomic variation was found to exist in all
rDNA regions analyzed, with the exception of the 5.8S rDNA. Variation will be
further analyzed using Parsimony and Neighbor-Joining methods for phylogenetic
analysis. Genetic diversity within A. ostoyae can be examined for
relationships to ecological function (e.g., pathogenicity, host specificity,
habitat type), geographic origin, forest management practices (e.g.,
fertilization), and interactions among Armillaria genotypes.