The Population Biology of a Smut Fungus, Ustilago spinificis Ludw. II. Isozyme Polymorphism and Geographic Differentiation

Abstract

Isozyme variation was surveyed at 17 loci in 39 strains of Ustilago spinificis collected from all regions of the species range from Western Australia to New Zealand. Only two polymorphisms were observed, one restricted to eastern Victoria and the other more widespread. Heterozygosity (0.03) was low in the species. There was no evidence that geographically isolated populations of this species were genetically differentiated to any significant extent.