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Characterization of the mating-type locus (MAT) reveals a heterothallic mating system in Knightiella splachnirima

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2017

Lars R. LUDWIG ,
Tina C. SUMMERFIELD ,
Janice M. LORD  and
Garima SINGH
Lars R. LUDWIG
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Email: lars.ludwig@botany.otago.ac.nz; lars-ludwig@gmx.de
Tina C. SUMMERFIELD
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Email: lars.ludwig@botany.otago.ac.nz; lars-ludwig@gmx.de
Janice M. LORD
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Email: lars.ludwig@botany.otago.ac.nz; lars-ludwig@gmx.de
Garima SINGH
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Abstract

In the present study, we characterized the mating-type locus of Knightiella splachnirima (Icmadophilaceae) using degenerate and inverse PCR techniques. We screened for the presence of both mating-type locus idiomorphs in DNA extracts of minuscule samples of haploid thalline tissue. We found that only one of the two idiomorphs was present in each sample, and the mating-type ratio (MAT1-1:MAT1-2) was very balanced, being 8:10 and 13:14 at local and global scales, respectively. This indicates that the species is probably self-incompatible and requires the presence of compatible mating partners for sexual reproduction (heterothallic mating system). Furthermore, we provide a mating-type screening protocol with K. splachnirima specific mating-type locus primers, which could serve as an essential tool for the conservation management of this rare Australasian endemic.

Keywords

heterothallismIcmadophila splachnirimaIcmadophilaceaelichenNew Zealandsexual reproduction
Type
Articles
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 49 , Issue 4 , July 2017 , pp. 373 - 385
Copyright
© British Lichen Society, 2017 

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