Molecular detection and characterisation ofFusarium verticillioides in maize (Zea mays. L) grown in southern India

Abstract

Fusarium verticillioides causes a wide range of diseases in maize and also produces important mycotoxins like fumonisins which are the major threats to animals and humans. In the present study 14 different isolates ofF. verticillioides were collected from maize seeds represented from different parts of Southern India and the morphological identity was further confirmed by PCR. The isolates were subjected to morphological, biochemical and molecular characterisation. Results showed that the molecular method is the good tool to discriminateF. verticillioides into two different major groups.