DETECTION OF MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA TRANSFER BETWEEN STRAINS AFTER VEGETATIVE CONTACT IN CRYPHONECTRIA-PARASITICA

Field isolates of Cryphonecteria parasitica showing a transmissible hy povirulence phenotype not associated with dsRNA viruses have been reco vered from surviving chestnut trees in North America. Mitochondrial dy sfunction is thought to a play a primary role in the dsRNA-free hypovi rulent strains since large amounts of respiration occur via the altern ative oxidase pathway. To determine if mitochondrial exchange can occu r in C. parasitica, vegetative pairings were established between genet ically marked strains. mtDNA from the donor strain could be detected i n the recipient strain providing laboratory evidence that held isolate s of C. parasitica are capable of exchanging mtDNA with other strains.