Phylogeny and phytopathogenicity mechanisms of soilborne Fusarium oxysporum

摘要

Fusarium oxysporum is a ubiquitous ascomycete found globally in most habitats, including soil. Although the soilborne fungus usually is saprophytic (nonpathogenic), some strains are associated with plant diseases that cause economically significant agricultural damage worldwide. Among the phytopathogenic strains, more than 120 formae speciales (f. spp.) have been reported, each defined by the plant taxa included in its host range. For example, f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) causes a wilt disease only on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), whereas other pathogenic f. spp. (except f. sp. radicis-lycopersici) do not cause tomato diseases. Within a forma specialis, races are frequently distinguished by their specificity to different plant cultivars. The three races (designated 1, 2 and 3) of FOL that have been reported to date can be distinguished via the reactions they cause on a set of tester cultivars of tomato.