Molecular Genetic Diversity in Populations of Fusarium pseudograminearum from Tunisia

Abstract

Fusarium pseudograminearum is one of the major pathogens causing crown rot of wheat in the semi-arid and arid areas in Tunisia. In this study, the molecular diversity of 74 isolates of F. pseudograminearum representing three populations from Tunisia and a set of isolates from the world collection was investigated. The potential mycotoxin-producing ability was tested by PCR using primer pairs specific for the Tri3, Tri7 and Tri13 genes. Results indicated that all the isolates are potentially DON and ⁄ or 3-AcDON producers. The mating-type idiomorphs were identified using diagnostic PCR primer for MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. Both mating types were recovered from the same region and in some cases from the same field. Restriction analysis of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) intergenic spacer region (IGS) revealed 11 haplotypes, five of which were identified in the world collection. The analysis of population structure using the combined IGS and MAT data revealed that the total gene diversity (H T = 0.108) was mostly attributable to diversity within populations (H S = 0.102) and that the genetic differentiation among the four populations was low (G ST = 0.09). The analysis of molecular variance (amova amova) showed that 15% of the variability was between the Tunisian populations and the world collection. These findings indicate that quarantine measures should be in place to limit the introduction of new populations of F. pseudograminearum into Tunisia.

Fusarium crown rot caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum in cereal crops: recent progress and future prospects

“…Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria) (Alkadri et al, 2013;Hameed et al, 2012;Pouzeshimiab et al, 2016;Saremi et al, 2007;Tunali et al, 2006Tunali et al, , 2008, China (Ji et al, 2016;Li et al, 2012;Xu et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2015), North Africa (e.g. Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco) (Gargouri et al, 2011;Kammoun et al, 2009) and South America (e.g. Argentina) (Castañares et al, 2012).…”

Comparative Pathogenomics Reveals Horizontally Acquired Novel Virulence Genes in Fungi Infecting Cereal Hosts

“…In many parts of the world, Fusarium pseudograminearum is the principal cause of Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat and barley. FCR is significant in arid cereal-growing regions worldwide including South Africa [9] , Northern Africa [10] , the Middle East [11] , Europe [12] and Australia [13] as well as the northwest of the United States of America [14] . In Australia, FCR is a chronic problem and among the most economically significant diseases of both wheat and barley [15] , [16] .…”

There it is! Fusarium pseudograminearum did not lose the fusaristatin gene cluster after all

“…Fusarium pseudograminearum is the primary cause of Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat and barley in the arid cereal growing regions of the world including Australia (Burgess et al 2001), Southern Europe (Balmas 1994), Northern Africa (Gargouri et al 2011), South Africa (Lamprecht et al 2006), China (Ji et al 2016;Li et al 2012;Xu et al 2017) and the United Stated of America (Smiley et al 2005). The disease is one of the most severe in cereals in Australia with yearly economic losses of approximately 100 million Australian dollars Brennan 2009, 2010).…”