First report on Fusarium virguliforme in Persian Gulf Beach soils

Abstract

Fusarium species are cosmopolitan species that frequently isolated from soils and plant<br />debris and can seriously damaged plant, animal and human. Persian Gulf beaches in Iran<br />are the ideal habitat for a variety of Fusarium species. Therefore, the study is conducted<br />to gather some information on the population of Fusarium species which could be found<br />in Persian Gulf beaches in Iran. The study involved the isolation and identification of<br />Fusarium species from beach soil samples in Persian Gulf beaches. The direct isolation<br />technique from soil particles was used to isolate Fusarium species from beach soil<br />samples. Fusarium species were identified by the observation of macroscopic and<br />microscopic characteristics. Fusarium solani is the most common species found on the<br />beach samples which had the highest percentage of abundance (58%). The percentage of<br />abundance for other Fusarium species is relatively low, where F. proliferatum consists of<br />12%, followed by F. equiseti (10%), F. falciforme (10%), F. oxsysporum (7%) and F.<br />virguliforme (3%). Molecular identification using translation elongation factor 1α (tef1)<br />gene and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were<br />conducted to confirm morphological data. Numerous Fusarium species associated with<br />soil and different plants have been reported from Iran. Until today, there are no reports on<br />F. virguliforme in Iran. The study on the Fusarium species on beach soil samples of<br />Persian Gulf in Iran will provide insight on the influence of environment on occurrence of<br />Fusarium in Persian Gulf.