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POSTERS: Systematics/Evolution I

P-593 - Exploring the phylogenetic relationships and genetic variability of snow mold fungi in turfgrass

Monday, August 4, 2025
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3
Abstract Text: Snow mold refers to plant diseases that develop under snow cover, characterized by low temperatures, darkness, and high moisture. Caused by a diverse range of fungi, these diseases pose significant challenges to turfgrass. This study employed DNA sequencing to investigate the evolutionary relationships and genetic variation of isolates from four snow mold fungal species: Microdochium nivale, Sclerotinia borealis, Typhula incarnata and Typhula ishikariensis, collected across different geographic locations (US and Norway), providing insights into their adaptability and evolutionary potential. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS region, TEF1α, and RPB2 genes revealed robust and consistent evolutionary relationships with similar topologies across all three genes, indicating that the genetic signal reflects true evolutionary history rather than being driven by a single locus. The lack of geographic clustering within each species suggested high gene flow between populations, supported by a high proportion of monomorphic sites and low nucleotide diversity, which indicated limited genetic variation within each species. Notably, M. nivale and T. incarnata exhibited a predominant haplotype widely distributed across regions, suggesting these species are highly adaptable to diverse geographic conditions and may be specialized for turfgrass. These findings highlight the adaptability of snow mold fungi and underscore the challenges in managing these pathogens, as their genetic homogeneity and widespread distribution may influence their response to control measures.