Morphological and phylogenetic analysis of Fusarium solani species complex in Malaysia

Microb Ecol. 2015 Apr;69(3):457-71. doi: 10.1007/s00248-014-0494-2. Epub 2014 Sep 20.

Abstract

Members of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) have been known as plant, animal, and human pathogens. Nevertheless, the taxonomic status of such an important group of fungi is still very confusing and many new species as well as lineages have been elucidated recently. Unfortunately, most of the new taxa came from temperate and subtropical regions. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to identify strains of FSSC recovered from different sources in Malaysia. In the present study, 55 strains belonging to the FSSC were examined and phylogenetically analyzed on the basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and partial translation elongation factor-1 (TEF-1α) sequences. Based on morphological features, a total of 55 strains were selected for molecular studies. Based on morphological features, the strains were classified into four described Fusarium species, namely Fusarium keratoplasticum, Fusarium falciforme, FSSC 5, and Fusarium cf. ensiforme, and one unknown phylogenetic species was introduced. Although the data obtained from morphological and molecular studies sufficiently supported each other, the phylogenetic trees based on ITS and TEF-1α dataset clearly distinguished closely related species and distinctly separated all morphological taxa. All members of FSSC in this research were reported for the first time for Malaysian mycoflora.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • DNA, Intergenic / genetics
  • DNA, Intergenic / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Hypocreales / cytology*
  • Hypocreales / genetics*
  • Hypocreales / metabolism
  • Malaysia
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Intergenic
  • Fungal Proteins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S