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Isozyme Characterization of Peridermium harknessii and Cronartium quercuum f. sp. banksianae with Starch Gel Electrophoresis. G. A. Tuskan, Assistant professor, Department of Horticulture and Forestry, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105; J. A. Walla, Research associate, Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105. Phytopathology 79:444-448. Accepted for publication 9 November 1988. Copyright 1989 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-79-444.

Starch gel electrophoresis techniques were examined and modified for utilization in characterizing variability in Peridermium harknessii and Cronartium quercuum f. sp. banksianae. Alternative spore preparation techniques, extraction buffer components, and enzyme staining systems are presented. Eleven of the 33 examined enzymes produced useful isozyme data. Allozyme frequencies between P. harknessii and C. q. banksianae were significantly different for catalase and phosphoglucomutase. Interpretation of the data indicates that the sampled P. harknessii population is heterogeneous, homozygous, and that the C. q. banksianae population is heterogeneous and heterozygous.

Additional keywords: Eastern gall rust, Endocronartium harknessii, western gall rust.