Presence of double-stranded RNA in Heterobasidion annosum

A search for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) was conducted among 204 European isolates of the pathogenic fungus Heterobasidion annosum. Nucleic acids were extracted and purified by cellulose CF-11 chromatography or lithium chloride precipitation. dsRNA was present in eight of the isolates and was confirmed by nuclease digestion. The dsRNA elements ranged between 1.8 and 2.4 kbp and were found in two H. annosum intersterility groups, S and P. Partial amino acid sequence information from one dsRNA element showed significant homology to RNA-dependent RNA polymerases from several fungal partitiviruses. This is the first report of the presence of dsRNAs in H. annosum. Possible implications of dsRNA for the biology of the fungus and the potential for biological control are discussed.