Angular leaf spot or black arm of cotton, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum (Xam), is a disease of economic importance. The disease can be controlled by using resistant cultivars if the knowledge regarding the genetic variability of the pathogen population is available. The genetic variability and the pathogen stability among the isolates of this pathogen have not been sufficiently studied, especially considering the introduction of new cultivars and the expansion of areas under cotton cultivation. The objective of the present study was to identify genetic variability among 61 isolates of Xam collected from different cultivars and geographic regions. Analysis of ERIC and REP-PCR revealed two distinct groups of Xam based on the geographic region of isolation. PCR-RFLP of 16S-23S rDNA did not reveal differences in the restriction profiles of the isolates. The 16S-23S rDNA region of three isolates of Xam was also analysed by cloning and sequencing and 6 differences in the sequences were observed. The RAPD technique revealed a higher level of polymorphism and distinguished 6 groups of Xam. The results indicate a very narrow genetic variability among Xam isolates used in this study.
Gossypium hirsutum; angular leaf spot; molecular analysis
