Current Approaches to Identification of Fusarium Fungi Infecting Wheat

Fungi of the genus Fusarium are especially dangerous phytopathogens affecting common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) among other crops, as they may cause not only crop losses but poisoning of humans and livestock. The review highlights current approaches to identify fungi of the genus Fusarium infecting common wheat. Microbiological techniques for identification of Fusarium species are still among laboratory protocols and recommendations, therefore some of the most popular genus- and species-specific media are mentioned in the review. However, in the modern literature, much more attention is paid to identification of Fusarium fungi with the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Therefore, conventional PCR assays for identification of representatives of the genus Fusarium in general or only species producing especially dangerous metabolites (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 4-acetylnivalenol, and enniatin) are highlighted in the review. The primer pairs to identify the presence of certain Fusarium species or their combinations in samples are described. For real-time PCR assays, which may be used for more precise quantitative and qualitative genus- and species-specific identification of Fusarium fungi, protocol details, primer and probe sequences are described, as well as recommended dyes are mentioned for the probes. For some primer pairs, additional details regarding their validation and assay sensitivity are mentioned. Thus, the techniques described in the review are precise and comprehensive enough and may be used in combination and separately for genus- and species-specific quantitative or qualitative identification of fungi of the genus Fusarium .