Relationships among isolates of Botrytis cinerea collected from greenhouses and field locations in Alberta, based on RAPID analysis

This study was undertaken to determine whether there was genetic diversity among isolates of Botrytis cinerea (teleomorph Botryotinia fuckeliana) collected from greenhouses and field locations in Alberta, Canada, and whether genetic diversity could be attributed to collection location and (or) host plant species. The study was conducted to provide basic information that is intended for use in developing effective greenhouse control strategies for B. cinerea. Ninety-one isolates of B. cinerea were collected from 20 host plant species in 31 greenhouse and field locations across the province. Relationships among subsets of the isolates were assessed, using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, and correlated with collection location and host plant. The first subset comprised 38 isolates collected from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in eight greenhouses. The second subset was made up of 50 isolates from 10 host species collected in 10 greenhouses. The third subset consisted of 35 isolates from 17 host species from 23 greenhouses and 8 field locations. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis demonstrated distinct groups of B. cinerea within greenhouses in Alberta. Isolates in the three subsets clustered together based on the greenhouse of origin, but not on geographic region or host species. To our knowledge this is the first report of specialization in B. cinerea based on the greenhouse of origin.