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Fusarium awaxy Associated with Maize from Paraguay: A First Report
Guillermo Andrés Enciso-Maldonado1,2, Fernando Jesús Lugo-Pedrozo1, Gabriela Micaela Romero1
1Centro Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Campus de la UNA, San Lorenzo 111421, Paraguay.
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 26, 2025
Summary
First detection of Fusarium awaxy in Paraguay maize crops. This finding highlights potential food safety risks and the need for enhanced agricultural monitoring in South America.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Mycology
- Plant Pathology
Background:
- Maize (Zea mays L.) is vital for Paraguayan food security and livestock.
- Fusarium species pose a threat to maize productivity and grain safety due to pathogenicity and mycotoxin production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize fungal pathogens from symptomatic maize leaves in Paraguay.
- To identify Fusarium species associated with maize in the Pirapó region.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and morphological characterization of fungal pathogens from maize leaves.
- Molecular identification using translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) gene sequences.
- Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference.
Main Results:
- Three Fusarium isolates (PYF-MZE22-01, -02, -03) were obtained from maize leaves.
- Molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the isolates as Fusarium awaxy.
- This represents the first record of F. awaxy associated with maize in Paraguay, extending its known distribution.
Conclusions:
- The presence of Fusarium awaxy in Paraguayan maize fields raises concerns about its pathogenic potential and food safety implications.
- Emphasizes the need for integrated surveillance programs, molecular diagnostics, and toxigenic profiling for emerging Fusarium species in South American agriculture.
