Genetic variability of strains of Verticillium fungicola causing dry bubble disease of white Button Mushroom Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach

The dry bubble caused by Verticillium fungicola, is an important fungal disease of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Eleven isolates of V. fungicola were collected from six states of North India in 2016. Molecular analyses based on RAPD was used to study the phylogenetic variations among the isolates of V. fungicola. Analysis of RAPD data was performed using five RAPD primers to evaluate the genetic variability. The result analysis showed that the genetic variability of the isolates was low and they were almost clonal. Relative correlations between geographical origins of isolates and molecular grouping were observed but there was no correlation between virulence assays and RAPD patterns.