Genetic diversity and potential biological control of rubus spectabilis

A mycobiota survey was conducted on Vancouver Island and mainland BC to identify potential biocontrol agents of salmonberry. The species, which included 17 isolates of Bot~tis cinerea, 3 Phoma argillacea and 1 Septoria rubi, were pathogenic on detached leaves. Greenhouse trials showed P. argillacea induced foliar and stem necrosis on intact plants with an 18-hr leaf wetness period and mycelial inoculum of 2 . 6 ~ 1 0 ~ CFUImL. In a host range test, three conifer species showed seedling tolerance and red raspberry showed initial damage but no cane blight when inoculated with P. argillacea. Salmonbeny DNA was isolated from leaves collected from five widespread populations. RAPD-PCR was used to fingerprint individuals, generating 35 loci with a 75.5% average variability. Diversity within populations was high, with an average heterozygosity of 0.38. Among population differentiation was poor, with an FST of 0.0454; therefore, an average 5.3 migrants per generation is required to maintain this variation.