Mycologia Iranica 7(1): 135 – 142, 2020 DOI: 10.22043/mi.2021.123688 Submitted 11 Jan. 2020, accepted for publication 3 March 2020  Corresponding Author E-mail: jnikkhah@ut.ac.ir © 2020, Published by the Iranian Mycological Society http://mij.areeo.ac.ir Original Article Cross-transferability of SSR loci of Phaeosphaeria nodorum to Mauginiella scaettae H. Alvanipour H. Aminian Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Abouraihan Campus, University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Iran Kh. Alami-Saeid Department of Plant Production Engineering and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran K. Sorkheh Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran R. Farrokhinejad Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran A. A. Nejati Department of Plant Production Engineering and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran M. Javan-Nikkhah✉ Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Abstract: Mauginiella scaettae is one of the most critical and devastating fungal pathogens causing date palms inflorescence rot (khamedj). This pathogen, in severe attacks, can cause 80% loss of the annual harvest. In this study, seven SSR loci (have previously been isolated and characterized in Phaeosphaeria nodorum) were evaluated for transferability on 13 single-spore isolates of M. scaettae obtained from eight different regions of Khuzestan province, Iran. A high level of transferability of SSRs was detected. Five primer pairs, including SNOD1, SNOD26, SNOD22, SNOD17, and SNOD21, were successfully amplified and produced an amplification product of the expected size range in thirteen isolates collected from eight locations. Two microsatellite markers, including SNOD5 and SNOD16, were not amplified and showed no amplification. The rate of amplification of five amplified SSR loci was different among isolates. A total of sixteen alleles were obtained across the five SSRs loci for thirteen isolates. Among all isolates examined, the highest rate (92.3%) and the lowest rate (7.7%) of amplification were done for SNOD26 and SNOD21 SSR loci, respectively. The loci SNOD1, SNOD26, and SNOD22 generated four, and SNOD17 locus generated three alleles, and the lowest number of alleles (one allele) was identified in the SNOD21 locus. Keywords: Date palm, Khamedj disease, SSR locus, ITS-rDNA, allele diversity INTRODUCTION Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) provides an excellent source of food with high nutritional values, called a mine (Zaid & Wet 2002). In addition to providing a wide range of essential nutrients, various parts of the date plant can be used in different industries. To eradicate food insecurity, malnutrition, and food crises, FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization) has a unique look for the date palm and implement different projects and programs in various fields (Arias et al. 2016). Khuzestan province, located in the southwest of Iran, is considered as one of the most critical palm cultivation areas in Iran, which its date fruits are exported to different countries. Khuzestan province seems to be one of the places of origin and distribution of date in the world (Zaid & Wet 2002). The significant date palm cultivation areas in Khuzestan include the southern, western, and central parts of the province. One of the most important diseases of palm in Khuzestan province is khamedj disease (inflorescence rot). Based on our field observations, due to the favorable environmental conditions for the pathogen, Khuzestan province has a higher incidence of disease than other Iran provinces.