Differences in isozyme and RAPD-PCR polymorphisms amongst 33 isolates
of Fusarium avenaceum were compared using native polyacrylamide gel el
ectrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis. The isolates were colle
cted From different regions of Finland. Amongst eight enzymes analysed
clear isozyme polymorphism was detected in five enzymes which could b
e grouped into 20 different electrophoretic phenotypes and three main
groups al the similarity level of 70% in unweighted pair group method
with arithmetic average (UPGMA) analysis. RAPD-PCR analysis differenti
ated all F. avenaceum strains from each other. The phenotypes resultin
g from RAPD-PCR analysis were grouped into five main groups by UPGMA a
nalysis at the similarity level of 55%. These main groups had several
similarities with the main groups from isozyme analysis. RAPD-PCR patt
erns of 16 isolates of Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti,
F. oxysporum and F. redolens were also studied and strains from each
Fusarium species formed individual groups in UPGMA and principal compo
nents analyses. Thus, the extent of isozyme and RAPD-PCR polymorphisms
found in Fusarium strains potentially provides a method for identifyi
ng the fungi both at strain and species level.