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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415270
Research Project: Development of Genomic Tools for Control and Characterization of Rhizoctonia solani and Other Soil-borne Plant Pathogens

Location: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory

Title: Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of Fusarium species from the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex causing Fusarium stalk rot of maize

Author
item JAMBHULKAR, PRASHANT - Central Agricultural University
item BAJPAI, RUCHIRA - Central Agricultural University
item HARISH , J.AYARAMA,, REDDY - Central Agricultural University
item TRIPATH, ARTHA - Central Agricultural University
item ROUT, AJAY - Central Agricultural University
item VARUN, PRIYANKA - Central Agricultural University
item BEHERA, BIJAY - Central Agricultural University
item Lakshman, Dilip

Submitted to: The Journal of Fungi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2024
Publication Date: 8/14/2024
Citation: Jambhulkar, P.P., Bajpai, R., Harish , J.Ayarama,, R., Tripath, A.K., Rout, A.K., Varun, P., Behera, B.K., Lakshman, D.K. 2024. Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of Fusarium species from the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex causing Fusarium stalk rot of maize. The Journal of Fungi. 10(8), 574;. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080574.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080574

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium stalk rot (FSR), a global economic threat to maize cultivation, is caused by multiple Fusarium species. In this study, we investigated the population structure and genetic diversity of Fusarium isolates from five major maize-growing regions of India. The results from this investigation offered an understanding of the genetic diversity of the pathogen for management purposes and the evolutionary dynamics of the Fusarium species causing FSR of maize in the Indian subcontinent. The findings of this study will be helpful to mycologists, extension workers, and plant disease management specialists.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium stalk rot (FSR) caused by the Fusarium species complex is an economic threat to maize cultivation all over the world. We investigated the population structure and genetic diversity of Fusarium spp. obtained from five major maize-growing regions of India. The Tef-1a locus was used for phylogenetic analysis of geographically distinct isolates of Fusarium verticillioides, F. andiyazi, F. proliferatum, F. nygamai, and F. acutatum causing FSR. Geographical separation among four local populations contributed to 7.87% variance, whereas 92.12% of the variance was within populations, suggesting a predominant influence of local adaptation or stochastic events like genetic drift within populations, with geographical separation playing a lesser but significant role in shaping genetic diversity. Genetic differentiation statistics between Fusarium species showed lower gene flow from haplotypes except in the population of F. acutatum and F. andiyazi having high GST values. In contrast, a high Kxy was reported, indicating elevated genetic differentiation between populations. The haplotype network analysis revealed the presence of eight distinct haplotypes which reflected pathogenic evolution and adaptive potential of Fusarium spp. The results offer a comprehensive framework for discussing the implications of genetic diversity in pathogen management and the evolutionary dynamics of the Fusarium spp. causing FSR of maize in the Indian subcontin