Skip Navigation



MBE Advance Access published online on October 20, 2004
Molecular Biology and Evolution, doi:10.1093/molbev/msi020
Molecular Biology and Evolution © Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2004; all rights reserved
This Article
Right arrow Advance Access manuscript (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
22/2/333    most recent
msi020v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Staats, M.
Right arrow Articles by van Kan, J. A.L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Staats, M.
Right arrow Articles by van Kan, J. A.L.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Accepted October 4, 2004

Research Article

Molecular Phylogeny of the Plant Pathogenic Genus Botrytis and the Evolution of Host Specificity

Martijn Staats 1, Peter van Baarlen 1, and Jan A.L. van Kan 1*

1 Wageningen University, Laboratory of Phytopathology, Binnenhaven 5, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Jan A.L. van Kan, E-mail: jan.vankan{at}wur.nl


  Abstract

The cosmopolitan genus Botrytis contains 22 recognized species and one hybrid. The current classification is largely based on morphological characters and to a minor extent on physiology and host range. In this study, a classification of the genus was constructed based on DNA sequence data of three nuclear protein-coding genes (RPB2, G3PDH and HSP60) and compared with the traditional classification. Sexual reproduction and the host range, important fitness traits, were traced in the tree and used for the identification of major evolutionary events during speciation. The phylogenetic analysis corroborated the classical species delineation. In addition, the hybrid status of B. allii (B. byssoidea x B. aclada) was confirmed. Both individual gene trees and combined trees show that the genus Botrytis can be divided into two clades, radiating after the separation of Botrytis from other Sclerotiniaceae genera. Clade I contains four species that all colonize exclusively eudicot hosts, whereas clade II contains 18 species which are pathogenic either on eudicot (5) or monocot (13) hosts. A comparison of Botrytis and angiosperm phylogenies shows that cospeciation of pathogens and their hosts have not occurred during their respective evolution. Rather we propose that host shifts have occurred during Botrytis speciation, possibly by the acquisition of novel virulence factors. Loss of sexual reproduction has occurred at least three times and is supposed to be a consequence of negative selection.

Keywords: Botrytis; necrotrophic fungus; coevolution; host shift; bayesian inference; molecular phylogeny.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
A. Shipunov, G. Newcombe, A. K. H. Raghavendra, and C. L. Anderson
Hidden diversity of endophytic fungi in an invasive plant
Am. J. Botany, September 1, 2008; 95(9): 1096 - 1108.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MycologiaHome page
D. T. O'Gorman, P. L. Sholberg, S. C. Stokes, and J. Ginns
DNA sequence analysis of herbarium specimens facilitates the revival of Botrytis mali, a postharvest pathogen of apple
Mycologia, March 1, 2008; 100(2): 227 - 235.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MycologiaHome page
E. Fournier, T. Giraud, C. Albertini, and Y. Brygoo
Partition of the Botrytis cinerea complex in France using multiple gene genealogies.
Mycologia, November 1, 2005; 97(6): 1251 - 1267.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.