Korean Journal of Mycology (Kor. J. Mycol.)
Indexed in SCOPUS, KCI, DOAJ
OPEN ACCESS, PEER REVIEWED
pISSN 0253-651X
eISSN 2383-5249

Identification of Fusarium Species Associated with Corn Ear Rot

Agricultural Microbiology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon 441-707, Korea
1Department of Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea

Correspondence to hyon338@rda.go.kr

Korean Journal of Mycology (Kor J Mycol) December 31, 2009, 37(2):121-129.
https://doi.org/10.4489/kjm.2009.37.2.121
(Received June 16, 2009. Accepted September 8, 2009)
Published: December 31, 2009.
© The Korean Society of Mycology

ABSTRACT

In 2007, a total of 77 isolates of Fusarium spp. were obtained from ear rot symptoms of corns collected from 5 locations in Gangwon Province, Korea. The fungal isolates were identified based on their morphological features. Out of the isolates, fifteen isolates were identified as Fusarium verticillioides which formed microconidia in long chains on monophialides. Four isolates were identified as F. subglutinans which formed microconida only on false heads. Six isolates were identified as F. graminearum which produced red pigment in PDA culture. Besides these Fusarium species, F. napiform, F. nygamai, and F. oxysporum were identified from the rest isolates. To assess for genetic diversity of the isolates, a random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) technique was carried out using URP primers. The results from the RAPD analysis showed that the isolates from corn were divided into 6 groups. These RAPD groups of the Fusarium species corresponded to morphological characters of the Fusarium species. The phylogenetic analysis of most isolates by DNA sequencing of EF-1α gene corresponded to morphological characters of the Fusarium species. The results of pathogenicity tests by two inoculation methods revealed that F. verticillioides, F. graminearum and F. subglutinans are strongly pathogenic to corn stalks.

Keywords

Corn ear rot, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium subglutinans, Fusarium verticillioides, Pathogenicity

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