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Determination of Self- and Inter-(in)compatibility Relationships in Apricot Combining Hand-Pollination, Microscopy and Genetic Analyses
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Heterokaryon incompatibility function of barrage-associated vegetative incompatibility genes (vic) in Cryphonectria

Myron L Smith1, Carmen C Gibbs, Michael G Milgroom

  • 1Biology Department, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. mysmith@ccs.carleton.ca

Mycologia
|June 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Vegetative incompatibility (VI) in fungi involves specific genetic loci. This study reveals that while some loci trigger incompatibility, others like vic4 do not, suggesting VI is more complex than previously thought.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Genetics
  • Fungal Biology

Background:

  • Vegetative incompatibility (VI) in fungi, like Cryphonectria parasitica, is mediated by vegetative incompatibility (vic) loci.
  • Barrage formation during mycelial interactions is a known indicator of VI.
  • The precise relationship between barrage formation and heterokaryon incompatibility requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific vic loci in heterokaryon formation in Cryphonectria parasitica.
  • To determine if allelic differences at vic loci directly correlate with heterokaryon incompatibility.
  • To clarify the relationship between barrage formation and heterokaryon incompatibility in fungal VI systems.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized hygromycin B- and benomyl-resistance as forcing markers in C. parasitica strains.
  • Tested heteroallelism at six vic loci (vic1-3, vic6-7, and vic4) for their effect on heterokaryon formation.
  • Assessed heterokaryon formation by observing growth rate and morphology following mycelial interactions.

Main Results:

  • Allelic differences at vic1, vic2, vic3, vic6, and vic7 loci resulted in heterokaryon incompatibility, characterized by slow growth and aberrant morphology.
  • Strains with allelic differences at the vic4 locus formed stable heterokaryons despite exhibiting barrage formation.
  • This dissociation between barrage formation and heterokaryon incompatibility was observed specifically at the vic4 locus.

Conclusions:

  • Barrage formation and heterokaryon incompatibility are not necessarily manifestations of the same underlying process in fungal VI.
  • Heterokaryon incompatibility is a component of fungal vegetative incompatibility systems.
  • Fungal VI may involve cell-surface or extracellular factors triggering programmed cell death for nonself recognition.

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