Occurrence And Characterization Of Fusarium Spp. Isolated From Mangrove Soils

Genus Fusarium adalah antara kulat fitopatogen dan toksigen penting yang tersebar secara meluas dalam alam semula jadi. Kajian ini bertujuan menentukan keberlakuan dan ciri-ciri pencilan Fusarium daripada tanah bakau, yang terkenal dengan flora dan fauna, sebaliknya tidak begitu diketahui sebagai substrat bagi Fusarium spp.. Sejumlah 136 pencilan Fusarium telah dipencilkan daripada sampel tanah bakau yang diambil dari pada beberapa kawasan bakau di Pulau Pinang dan Kedah. The genus Fusarium is among the most important phytopathogenic and toxigenic fungi, widely spread in nature. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and characterize Fusarium isolates from mangrove soils which are well known for its flora and fauna, but poorly known as substrate of Fusarium species

<i>Fusarium</i> Species in Mangrove Soil in Northern Peninsular Malaysia and the Soil Physico-Chemical Properties

Fusarium genus comprises important saprophytic and phytopathogenic fungi and is widespread in nature. The present study reports the occurrence of Fusarium spp. in soils from two mangrove forests in northern Peninsular Malaysia and analyzed physico-chemical properties of the mangrove soil. Based on TEF-1α sequences, nine Fusarium species were identified: Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) (n = 77), Fusarium verticillioides (n = 20), Fusarium incarnatum (n = 10), Fusarium proliferatum (n = 7), Fusarium lateritium (n = 4), Fusarium oxysporum (n = 3), Fusarium rigidiuscula (n = 2), Fusarium chlamydosporum (n = 1), and Fusarium camptoceras (n = 1); FSSC isolates were the most prevalent. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined TEF-1α and ITS sequences revealed diverse phylogenetic affinities among the FSSC isolates and potentially new phylogenetic clades of FSSC. Soil analysis showed varied carbon content, pH, soil moisture, and salinity, but not nitrogen content, between sampling locations. Regardless of the physico-chemical properties, various Fusarium species were recovered from the mangrove soils. These were likely saprophytes; however, some were well-known plant pathogens and opportunistic human pathogens. Thus, mangrove soils might serve as inoculum sources for plant and human pathogenic Fusarium species. The present study demonstrates the occurrence of various Fusarium species in the extreme environment of mangrove soil, thereby contributing to the knowledge on species diversity in Fusarium