DNA amplification fingerprinting analysis of genetic variation within Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi

Genetic variation among 29 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi ( Foz ) collected from diseased ginger rhizome in production regions throughout Queensland was analysed using DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF). Eight isolates of other Fusarium species and/or formae speciales were included for comparative analysis. Within the Foz isolates, three haplotypes were identified based on 17 polymorphic bands generated with five primers. Two groups showed very little genetic variation (98.6% similarity), whereas the third single isolate was quite distinct in terms of its molecular profile (77.2% similarity). Genetic similarity among the Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense races 1, 3 and 4 isolates compared well with the published literature. Additional keywords: Fusarium yellows, ginger, rhizome rot, Zingiber officinale .