Molecular characterizations of ascochyta rabiei (pass.) labr. isolates the casual agent of anthracnose in chickpea

Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. is a host-specific fungal phytopathogen and causesserious problems on chickpea. In this study, mating type distributions, genomic DNApolymorphisms, vegetative compatible groups were investigated, and Mat geneswere sequenced for A. rabiei isolates occurred in Southeastern Anatolia which hasorigin areas of chickpea.Multiplex PCR with A. rabiei MAT-specific PCR primers was used to determine themating type of isolates of A. rabiei. Whereas Mat1-1/Mat1-2 ratio was beingdifferent to provinces, of 116 isolates of A. rabiei from 7 provinces tested, 59,5%were Mat1-1 and 40,5% were Mat1-2. A. rabiei isolates from wild chickpea speciesCicer pinnatifidum which is the first report in the world were Mat1-2. Mat geneswhich are known very conserved were sequenced and it was determined that amongisolates from different regions resembled 90% and upper to these genes sequences.Polymorphism was detected among isolates with microsatellite DNA analyses. Invegetative compatible group analyses, it was not determined nit mutants for A. rabieiisolates tested.Key words: Ascochyta rabiei, mating type, MAT, microsatellite, VCG