CHARACTERIZATION OF Fusarium SPECIES CAUSING ROOT ROT OF WHEAT IN THE BAJIO, MEXICO

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify Fusarium species causing root rot in wheat produced in the Bajío of Mexico, and to determine the response of 28 wheat varieties to this disease. Fusarium spp. isolates were obtained from samples with root rot symptoms in 2014 and 2015. The fungal isolates were identified by morphological characterization and sequence analysis of ITS and TEF-1?, and also using specific primers for the detection of Fusarium species. Pathogenicity of a representative isolate of each Fusarium species was verified by immersion of seeds of 28 wheat varieties in a conidial suspension. The results of the morphological characterization, sequence analysis, and pathogenicity tests indicated that Fusarium graminearum and F. proliferatum are the main species causing root rot in wheat grown in the Bajío of Mexico. In addition, the response to inoculation indicated that varieties Galvez M87, Castrejón F97, and Maya S2007 were the most tolerant to the disease, while Monarch Batan F96 and F2007 were more susceptible.