Poster Session: Biology of Pathogens - Mycology

488-P

Comparative sequence-based analysis of Fusarium proliferatum populations from seven maize genotypes..
M. ARIF (1), G. Busot (1), F. Iriarte (1), T. Fischer (1), J. P. Stack (1)
(1) Kansas State Univ, Manhattan, KS, U.S.A.

Pathogenic to many plant species and endophytic in others, Fusarium proliferatum is dispersed globally in seed of many crop plants, often in a cryptic, non-symptomatic state. F. proliferatum isolates vary in mycotoxin production, host range and can be detected in a vast array of habitats. Understanding the genetic complexity among and within populations is critical to understanding the significance of their dispersal and to developing effective detection protocols and mitigation measures. A comparative sequence-based genetic analysis of F. proliferatum populations from seven maize genotypes differing in insect resistance and herbicide tolerance was undertaken using two techniques. Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) analysis using ten primer sequences and multi-locus sequence typing using 3 genes was used to characterize over 100 isolates of F. proliferatum and closely related Fusarium species. Outgroup populations included F. verticillioides, F. subglutinans, F. fujikuroi, F. thapsinum, and F. adyazi. Analyses indicated that each maize genotype was host to genetically diverse populations of F. proliferatum. In a few instances, genetically identical and nearly identical F. proliferatum isolates occurred in more than one corn genotype. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that F. proliferatum isolates clustered tightly and independently from all outgroup populations.