Panmixia defines the genetic diversity of a unique arthropod-dispersed fungus specific to Protea flowers.

ABSTRACT: Knoxdaviesia proteae, a fungus specific to the floral structures of the iconic Cape Floral Kingdom plant, Protea repens, is dispersed by mites phoretic on beetles that pollinate these flowers. Although the vectors of K. proteae have been identified, little is known regarding its patterns of distribution. Seed bearing infructescences of P. repens were sampled from current and previous flowering seasons, from which K. proteae individuals were isolated and cultured. The genotypes of K. proteae isolates were determined using 12 microsatellite markers specific to this species. Genetic diversity indices showed a high level of similarity between K. proteae isolates from the two different infructescence age classes. The heterozygosity of the population was high (0.74 ± 0.04), and exceptional genot

SUBMITTER: Aylward J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4228618 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature