Population structure and genetic variation in Cylindrobasidium evolvens

A total of 34 isolates of Cylindrobasidium evolvens were obtained from woun ded Picea abies in five sample plots in Sweden and Lithuania. Population st ructure and genetic Variation within the species were assessed by somatic i ncompatibility and arbitrary primed DNA (AP-DNA) analysis, using the M13 co re sequence as a primer. AU somatic incompatibility pairings between differ ent C. evolvens isolates resulted in weak mycelial antagonism. The AP-DNA p rofiles indicate genetic variation was high in the species with no differen tiation among isolates being found either on a large (more than 700 km) (R- 2 = 0.108) or a fine scale (200 m) (R-2 = 0.024). In a plot, genetic simila rity was significantly higher (P < 0.02) among isolates from wounds infecte d during the previous 2 years than among the rest of the same population.