Pectic zymograms and taxonomy and pathogenicity of the Ceratobasidiaceae

TLDR: The pectic enzymes of 140 isolates of Rhizoctonia-1ike fungi from the Western Australian grainbelt were examined by electrophoresis and found to fall into 11 distinct zymogram groups (ZG).

Abstract: The pectic enzymes of 140 isolates of Rhizoctonia-1ike fungi from the Western Australian grainbelt were examined by electrophoresis and found to fall into 11 distinct zymogram groups (ZG). Isolates within a ZG had a similar cultural and morphological appearance and were either all multinucleate or all binucleate. Some isolates from most ZGs sporulated when transferred from potato-dextrose-marmite agar to water agar. Isolates from within a ZG had the same teleomorph. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested against wheat and lupins. All isolates from within a ZG were consistent in the type of lesions they produced and in their virulence towards these hosts. Rhizoctonia patch disease of cereals and lupins appears to be caused by isolates from ZG 1 and ZG 2. Severe reddish-brown and brown hypocotyl rots of lupins were caused by ZG 3 and ZG 4 isolates respectively. Five Ceratobasidium groups (CZG), one Waitea group (WZG) and ZG 5 had weak to nil pathogenicity towards wheat and lupins.