Genetic diversity and gene flow estimates among three populations of Botryodiplodia theobromae causing die-back and bark canker of pear in Punjab

Three populations of Botryodiplodia theobromae causing die-back and bark canker of pear in Punjab were analysed to know about the genetic diversity, gene flow, heterogeneity and the probable rate of spread of races capable of overcoming the resistance present in elite cultivars. There was no relationship between the morphologically similar isolates and their pathogenic behaviour. Majority of the isolates of B. theobromae within and among the populations produced lesions of 1.9–7.2 × 0.8–3.1 cm size on detached pear twigs cv. Punjab Beauty. Incubation period and per cent infection also varied within and among the three populations of the pathogen. The genetic diversity was calculated on the basis of allele frequencies of nine simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers using Nei's genetic diversity formulae. Allele frequencies (Xij ) varied significantly among the three populations ranging from 0.0 to 1.0. The mean genetic diversities within population (H S) also varied in all the locations ranging from 0.18 to 0...