Abstract

The electrophoretic karyotypes of 6 species in different Fusarium sections were examined by using contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis. Intact chromosomal DNA was prepared from protoplasts and up to 9 distinct bands were separated on 0.7% or 0.8% agarose gel under several different conditions. Putative chromosome numbers varied from 6 to 9 amd polymorphic karyotypes were observed in different Fusarium sections. Using Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomes as standards, the sizes of the Fusarium spp. chromosomes were estimated. The electrophoretic karyotypes of F. moniliforme and F. subglutinans (section Liseola) were similar. Unidentified filamentour fungi, F. beomiforme was much closer to F. axysporum (section Elecgans) in karyotype and the karyotypes of F. napiforme were more similar to those of section Liseola than any other sections. F. graminearum (section Discolor) had a distinctive electrophoretic karyotype.

• Keywords: Fusarium; CHEF; electrophoretic karyotype