Tilletia controversa synonymous with Tilletia caries?
In Oregon, US, studies were carried out to compare the electrophoretic karyotypes of strains of Tilletia controversa (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) and T. caries in order to study the extent of genetic relatedness and to determine if the pathogens should remain classified as two species or reclassified as variants of a single species. Criteria presently used to distinguish between these two pathogens include the optimum temperature for teliospore germination, teliospore wall morphology and disease symptoms.
Results obtained in this study indicate, as reported at the 6th International Congress of Plant Pathology, that the two pathogens are not different species. The karyotypes were unique of all strains. The authors concluded that the inability to differentiate between these two pathogens using either physical attributes of the electrophoretic karyotypes or Southern hybridization analysis, and the evidence for exchange of genetic material between these two pathogens does not substantiate their being classified as separate species.
Sources
Russel, B.W.; Mills, D. (1993) Synonymy of electrophoretic karyotypes among strains of Tilletia caries and T. controversa.
Presentation at the 6th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Montreal, CA, 1993-07/08-27/06.