Association of Double-Stranded RNA with Low Virulence in an Isolate ofLeucostoma persoonii

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Abstract
Nine segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) wree identified in an isolate of Leucostoma persoonii (14.4A) demonstrating low virulence, abnormal cultures morphology, and an inability to produce pycnidia when grown on culture media. Treatments of isolate 14.4A that altered the number of dsRNA segments also changed the virulence and morphology of the resulting cultures. When all dsRNA segments in isolate 14.4A were eliminated, the resulting cultures had increased virulence, sporulated, and grew similar to typical isolates of L. persoonii. Four segments of dsRNA were transferred by hypal anastomosis from isolate 14.4A to a genetically marked strain. Based on dsRNA segment elimination patterns and dsRNA tranfer data, isolate 14.4A may be infected with at least two distinct dsRNA viruses.