Detection of genetic variation among Fusarium spp. collected from wheat growing regions of India

Head blight of wheat (FHB) also called head scab caused by various Fusarium spp. is a severe disease problem worldwide. In present study, from the initial screening of sixty one 10-mer oligonucleotide primers (OPAA 1-20, OPAC 1-20, OPAD 1-20, OPV 14), 17 informative primers were selected for analysis of all the isolates of Fusarium spp. Amplification products ranged between 300 bp to 2072. Maximum number of bands (9) were scored with primers OPAD 12 and OPAA 13 followed by 7 bands with OPAD 4. Based on multivariate analysis and coefficient of genetic similarity, all the isolates were classified into five groups. The similarity coefficient ranged from 8.89 to 84.85 %. F. verticillioides isolates (D2 & D8) collected from Dalang Maidan, Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh were genetically more similar (84.85 %). This study has shown that there is considerable genetic variability among Fusarium spp. / isolates causing FHB of wheat in India.