GENETIC-VARIATION IN POTATO CYST NEMATODES IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Potato cyst-nematodes (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida, w ere studied for genetic variation by using isoelectric focusing and sp ecific enzyme staining. The calculation of coefficient of similarity o n 15 enzymes and construction of a dendrogram for a range of PCN popul ations revealed low levels of genetic variation among the G. rostochie nsis populations, probably due to a limited number of introductions, w hile in the case of G. pallida, the level of genetic variation was gre ater and fewer populations displayed identical banding patterns. Inter population Variation in zymograms was detected in only four enzyme sys tems (malic enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, cholinesterase and hexokinas e). The remaining 1.1 enzyme systems were monomorphic in relation to q ualitative differences in banding patterns. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevie r Science Ltd