Identification of Fusarium avenaceum strains by isozymes analysis 1

Abstract

Differences in isozyme polymorphisms between 33 isolates of Fusarium avenaceum were compared using the native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. The isolates were collected from different regions of Finland. Of eight enzymes analysed, five showed clear isozyme polymorphism. By using these five enzymes, the isolates could be grouped into 20 different electrophoretic phenotypes. One of them was specific for oats, five for wheat and six for barley. Two further phenotypes were isolated from each of these crop species. In addition, two phenotypes were isolated from strawberry, one from both rye and cotoneaster, while the electrophoretic phenotypes from thuja, apple and hawthorn were specific for each. The phenotypes could be classified into five main groups. The extent of isozyme polymorphisms found in F. avenaceum provides a useful method for studying the identification and evolution of F. avenaceum strains.