Aim: This study aimed at evaluating cultural, morphological and pathogenic variability among Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli strains isolated from French beans. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: The French beans showing Fusarium wilt symptoms were obtained from different fields in Kabaa irrigation scheme in Machakos County, Kenya. The diseased plants were washed and cut into 5 mm pieces which were surface sterilized before plating on Fusarium-selective medium. They were incubated for 10 days at 25-26°C. The developing colonies were transferred on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Carnation Leaf Agar (CLA) and Spezieller Nahrstoffarmer Agar (SNA) media for cultural and morphological characterization. Pathogenicity was assessed using on French bean 'Amy' variety. Results: From 84 Fusarium isolates obtained, 18 were confirmed to be F. oxysporum from which 8 were confirmed to be F. oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli (Fop). Variations existed cultural and Original Research Article

Land-use intensification has a significant influence on occurrence of soil microorganisms. The effect of this phenomenon on Fusarium species is poorly characterized. One hundred soil samples were obtained from 3 replicated land-use types (LUT) in Mwala and Kauti irrigation regions in Machakos County. These included two intensive land-uses under irrigation and rain-fed agriculture and undisturbed lands. Mwala irrigated lands were divided into four blocks based on history of cultivation.

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