EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact

SESSION 3: PATHOGENESIS – EPIDEMIOLOGY AND POPULATION
GENETICS
P74 - The molecular characterization and
determination of genetic variability in Fusarium
verticilloides strains isolated from maize in Turkey
B. Kansu 1 , P. Marin 2 , M. T. Gonzalez-Jaen 2 , B. Tunali 1
1 Ondokuz Mayis University, Agriculture Faculty, Department of Plant Protection, 55139, Samsun-
Turkey; 2 Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Jose Antonio
Novais 12, 28040 Madrid-Spain
E-mail: kansu_bayram@yahoo.com
Maize ear rot is one of the most important and common disease in maize fields of
Turkey, as well as all over the world. The causal agents of this disease include
some of the Fusarium species, but Fusarium verticilloides (Gibberella
moniliformis, G. fujikuroi mating population A) is considered the main responsible
for decreasing yield in fields. Additionally this species produces several
mycotoxins, especially fumonisins, which are dangerous for human and livestock.
In order to devise effective strategies to reduce both pathogen growth and
fumonisin risk it is necessary to gain knowledge about the genetic variability and
the population structure to detect potential populations and lineages that might
exist in terms of toxin profile, response to antifungal agents or differential climatic
features. These aspects were studied using the partial sequences of the IGS
region (Intergenic Spacer of rDNA units) and the translation elongation factor 1 α
gene (EF1-α) of a representative sample (66 strains) of F. verticilloides isolated
from six different agro-climatic regions of Turkey. Additional strains from diverse
geographic origins were also included in the phylogenetic analyses performed
using PAUP. The fumonisin-producing ability of the F. verticillioides strains was
tested using a specific PCR assay based on FUM1 gene, a key gene of fumonisin
biosynthetic pathway. All the strains were positive to the analysis. Additionally,
mating type alleles, MAT-1 and MAT-2, were determined in all the strains.
Percentages of MAT-1 and MAT-2 idiomorphs were 63.2% and 36.8%,
respectively. The separate and combined IGS and EF1-α phylogenies were
obtained and discussed in comparison with previous analyses reported and in
relation with climatic factors.
This research was supported by the Project Office of Ondokuz Mayıs University of
Turkey (PYO.ZRT.1904.012.010) and was supported partially by the Ministry of
Science and Innovation of Spain (AGL2010-22182-C04-01).
Keywords: Fusarium verticilloides, IGS, EF–1, species-specific PCR
167