Isolation of a DNA plasmid in the fungus Rhizoctonia solani

A DNA plasmid, designated pRS64, was detected in three isolates of anastomosis group 4 (AG-4) of Rhizoctonia solani Kühn by biophysical methods. The plasmid was a linear double-stranded DNA with a molecular weight of 1.68 +/- 0.06 X 10(6) or 2617 +/- 87 bp. Weakly pathogenic isolates of R. solani, 1668 RI-1, 1271 RI-64 and 1272 RI-1, which showed abnormally slow growth, contained the plasmids, but pathogenic isolates, 1668, 1271 and 1272, showing normal growth, contained no detectable plasmid DNA.