CHARACTERIZATION AND MYCOTOXIN ANALYSIS OF Fusarium spp. FROM HIGHLAND AREAS IN MALAYSIA

Fusarium isolates from highland areas in Malaysia were mostly recovered two species of grasses, Elyhordeum montanense and Paspalum conjugatum. The grouped into four morphological groups. Based on TEF-1α sequences, morphotype 1 molecularly identified as F. graminearum complex, 2 venenatum, 3 avenaceum 4 kyushuense. Restriction analysis the Intergenic Spacer region showed high levels genetic diversity complex venenatum. For mycotoxin analysis, only kyushuense produced beauvericin moniliformin (0.869 & 0.321 µg/kg, respectively). Zearalenone was by 32 (0.002 – 0.437 µg/kg), venenatum (0.006 - 0.014 µg/kg) µg/kg). Only isolate fumonisin B1 (0.001 present study indicates occurrence commonly reported where weather is cooler temperature lower than lowland areas. To our knowledge, this first report phylogenetic within Malaysia.