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A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates
Published on: October 28, 2021
Fusarium and allied genera from China: species diversity and distribution
M M Wang1,2, P W Crous3,4, M Sandoval-Denis3
1State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The genus Fusarium includes numerous important plant and human pathogens, as well as many industrially and commercially important species. During our investigation of fungal diversity in China, a total of 356 fusarioid isolates were obtained and identified from diverse diseased and healthy plants, or different environmental habitats, i.e., air, carbonatite, compost, faeces, soil and water, representing hitherto one of the most intensive sampling and identification efforts of fusarioid taxa in China. Combining morphology, multi-locus phylogeny and ecological preference, these isolates were identified as 72 species of Fusarium and allied genera, i.e., Bisifusarium (1), Fusarium (60), and Neocosmospora (11). A seven-locus dataset, comprising the 5.8S nuclear ribosomal RNA gene with the two flanking internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA (IGS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), partial calmodulin (cam), partial RNA polymerase largest subunit (rpb1), partial RNA polymerase second largest subunit (rpb2) gene regions, and partial β-tubulin (tub2), were sequenced and employed in phylogenetic analyses. A genus-level phylogenetic tree was constructed using combined tef1, rpb1, and rpb2 sequences, which confirmed the presence of four fusarioid genera among the isolates studied. Further phylogenetic analyses of two allied genera (Bisifusarium and Neocosmospora) and nine species complexes of Fusarium were separately conducted employing different multi-locus datasets, to determine relationships among closely related species. Twelve novel species were identified and described in this paper. The F. babinda species complex is herein renamed as the F. falsibabinda species complex, including descriptions of new species. Sixteen species were reported as new records from China. Citation: Wang MM, Crous PW, Sandoval-Denis M, et al. 2022. Fusarium and allied genera from China: species diversity and distribution. Persoonia 48: 1-53. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.48.01.
Insights
This study identified 72 species of Fusarium and allied genera in China, including 12 new species and 16 new records. The research enhances understanding of fungal diversity and distribution in the region.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Plant Pathology
- Fungal Taxonomy
- Phylogenetics
Background:
- The genus *Fusarium* comprises significant plant and human pathogens, alongside industrially important species.
- Fungal diversity and distribution studies are crucial for understanding ecological roles and potential impacts.
- Intensive sampling and identification efforts are needed to accurately characterize fungal populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive investigation of fusarioid fungal diversity in China.
- To identify and describe species within the genera *Fusarium*, *Bisifusarium*, and *Neocosmospora*.
- To determine the phylogenetic relationships among closely related fusarioid species and complexes.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of 356 fusarioid fungal isolates from diverse Chinese environments.
- Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses using a seven-locus dataset (ITS, IGS, *tef1*, *cam*, *rpb1*, *rpb2*, *tub2*).
- Phylogenetic analyses were conducted at both genus and species complex levels.
Main Results:
- A total of 72 fusarioid species were identified, belonging to *Bisifusarium* (1), *Fusarium* (60), and *Neocosmospora* (11).
- Twelve novel *Fusarium* species were discovered and described.
- Sixteen species were identified as new records for China, and the *F. babinda* complex was renamed *F. falsibabinda*.
Conclusions:
- This study significantly expands the known diversity and distribution of *Fusarium* and allied genera in China.
- The findings provide a robust taxonomic and phylogenetic framework for fusarioid fungi in the region.
- The identification of novel and newly recorded species highlights the importance of continued fungal exploration.
