Characterization of North American Armillaria species by nuclear DNA content and RFLP analysis

Twenty-six isolates representing nine North American Armillaria species wer e investigated with flow cytometry and RFLP (restriction fragment length po lymorphism) analyses to determine their nuclear DNA content and RFLP profil e. Three putatively diploid isolates of A. ostoyae, A. gemina, A. calvescen s, A. sinapina, A. mellea, A. gallica, A. nabs nona, and North American Bio logical Species (NABS) X were analyzed, and two putatively diploid isolates of NABS XI also were analyzed. Nuclear DNA contents of Armillaria species were 0.11-0.17 pg per nucleus (55-84 x 10(6) bp/C), depending on species. A mong the nine North American Armillaria species tested, A. ostoyae, A. gemi na, and A. mellea possessed relatively small nuclear DNA contents (0.11-0.1 2 pg per nucleus), whereas A. gallica possessed a relatively large nuclear DNA content (0.17 pg per nucleus). A. nabsnona has a slightly larger nuclea r DNA content (0.13 pg per nucleus) than A. ostoyae, A. gemina, and A. mell ea. Other species (A. calvescens, A. sinapina, NABS X, and NABS XI) possess ed moderate nuclear DNA contents (ca 0.15 pg per nucleus). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and RFLP of the intergenic spacer region-1 (IGS-1) generate d banding patterns for nine Armillaria species. In addition to previously r eported banding patterns, new banding patterns are presented for A. gemina, A. calvescens, A. mellea, and A. gallica.