Geographic differences in trichothecene chemotypes ofFusarium graminearum in the Northwest and North of Iran

Abstract

The diversity and prevalence ofFusarium species and their chemotypes on wheat in the North-West and North of Iran was determined. Wheat in these areas is severely affected by Fusarium head blight, withFusarium graminearum as prevalent species causing 96% of the infections in the North-West and 50% in the Northern provinces. Fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characters and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region, and parts of translation elongation factor 1-? and RNA polymerase subunit II sequences. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses show little haplotype variation between theF. graminearum strains collected from the different locations, but the isolates differ significantly in their trichothecene chemotypes as determined with a multilocus genotyping assay.F. graminearum strains producing 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol were abundant in Ardabil (North-West of Iran), while in Golestan province (North of Iran) at the other side of the Caspian Sea especially nivalenol producing strains and a variety of otherFusarium species were observed. Strains producing 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol were rarely found in both areas. This is the first detailed study onFusarium infections in Iranian wheat, showing large differences in prevalent etiological agents and in mycotoxin chemotypes geographically.