THE USE OF THE RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA TECHNIQUE TO IDENTIFYMATING GROUPS IN THE FUSARIUM SECTION LISEOLA

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to dete rmine the mating groups of several members of the Fusarium section Lis eola recovered from maize, rice and sorghum collected from different l ocations in Ghana. Three mating groups were identified, A, D and F, of which all A and F isolates were confirmed by mating studies. Fertile crosses were also obtained in crosses involving two of the isolates id entified as belonging to the D population. Variability within the A po pulation isolated from seeds and stem-bases of maize was investigated to determine whether the sub-structuring of this population was relate d to the host tissue from which the isolates were obtained. The relati ve merits of the RAPD procedure, compared to the mating procedure, for determining the mating affiliations of isolates and for more detailed analyses of isolates within a population, as well as its possible adv antages over established RFLP methodologies are discussed.