Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #71040
Title: MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AS A TOOL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF PHYTOPATHOGENICISOLATES OF FUSARIUM

Author
item O Donnell, Kerry
item Cigelnik, Elizabeth

Submitted to: National American Phytopathology Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A phylogenetically-based classification of Fusarium is being inferred from DNA sequence data obtained from multiple unlinked loci. The ever expanding database currently consists of about 3 million base pairs of DNA sequence data from over 1500 strains. Typically PCR products are sequenced directly but heterogenous DNA templates amplified from polymorphic loci are cloned to obtain readable sequence data. Maximum parsimony analyses are being conducted to assess the monophyly and sister relations of Fusarium and its teleomorphs (Gibberella, Nectria, and Neocosmospora) and the subgeneric species groupings called sections. DNA sequences contain a wealth of derived characters that are being used to diagnose phylogenetic species (PSC) sensu Nixon and Wheeler (1990). The PSC is concordant with the biological species concept (BSC) to the extent that both have been applied within Fusarium. Preliminary application of the PSC indicates that many morphological species are artificial. Selected morphospecies will be used to critique taxonomies developed by "splitters" and "lumpers."