Morphological and phylogenic analysis of Fusarium species associated with vertical system of Orobanche spp.

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are parasitic weeds and considered as a major limiting factor for the cultivation of various crops in many parts of the world. Due to the special biology of broomrape, including seed production, dispersal and longevity, the control of these species are often extremely difficult. Broomrape poses a serious threat to Iran’s agriculture; therefore exploring potential biological agents for these species are necessary. In this study, samples of infected broomrape plants (brown rot on vertical systems) collected from ten provinces of Iran, over the summer period (2014-2015). Fusarium isolates were identified according to their cultural and morphological characteristics. For phylogenetic analysis, a part of the tef1-α gene was amplified and examined. Based on morphological characters, fourteen species of Fusarium, including F. andiyazi, F. equiseti, F. flocciferum, F. foetens, F. hostae, F. lacertarum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. redolens, F. sambucinum, F. solani s. l., F. thapsinum, F. torulosum and F. verticillioides, were identified. F. solani s. l., with 25% frequency, was the most common species among species. Eight species namely F. andiyazi, F. hostae, F. flocciferum, F. foetans, F. lacertarum, F. redolens, F. thapsinum and F. torulosum on broomrape are being reported for the first time on global-scale and F. lacertarumis being reported for the first time in Iran.