Molecular Characterization of Isolates of Fusarium spp. Associated With Wilt in Capsicum spp.

Abstract

Fusarium is a diverse and heterogeneous fungi genus. Its wide genetic variability and similarity in morphological characteristics hinder the identification of species of this genus. Identifying Fusarium species is difficult due to the genus. Several molecular methods have been useful for differentiating these species, and the amplification of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the fungus ribosomal DNA has been successfully used, since ITS are preserved regions of the DNA that assists in distinguishing species. The objective of this work was to collect and characterize isolates of Fusarium spp. associated with wilt symptoms in Capsicum spp. in the biomes of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Were collected tissue samples of plants with wilt symptoms. The DNAs of the Fusarium spp. found were extracted, and subjected to polymerase chain reaction, using the primers ITS1 (5’TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3’) and ITS4 (5’-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3’). Subsequently, the sequencing was performed. The resulting sequences were, five Fusarium species were found F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. chlamydosporum, predominating F. solani and F. equiseti.