| Summary: | <i>Fusarium</i> genus comprises important saprophytic and phytopathogenic fungi and is widespread in nature. The present study reports the occurrence of <i>Fusarium</i> spp. in soils from two mangrove forests in northern Peninsular Malaysia and analyzed physico-chemical properties of the mangrove soil. Based on TEF-1α sequences, nine <i>Fusarium</i> species were identified: <i>Fusarium solani</i> species complex (FSSC) (<i>n</i> = 77), <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i> (<i>n</i> = 20), <i>Fusarium incarnatum</i> (<i>n</i> = 10), <i>Fusarium proliferatum</i> (<i>n</i> = 7), <i>Fusarium lateritium</i> (<i>n</i> = 4), <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> (<i>n</i> = 3), <i>Fusarium rigidiuscula</i> (<i>n</i> = 2), <i>Fusarium chlamydosporum</i> (<i>n</i> = 1)<i>,</i> and <i>Fusarium camptoceras</i> (<i>n</i> = 1); FSSC isolates were the most prevalent. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined TEF-1α and ITS sequences revealed diverse phylogenetic affinities among the FSSC isolates and potentially new phylogenetic clades of FSSC. Soil analysis showed varied carbon content, pH, soil moisture, and salinity, but not nitrogen content, between sampling locations. Regardless of the physico-chemical properties, various <i>Fusarium</i> species were recovered from the mangrove soils. These were likely saprophytes; however, some were well-known plant pathogens and opportunistic human pathogens. Thus, mangrove soils might serve as inoculum sources for plant and human pathogenic <i>Fusarium</i> species. The present study demonstrates the occurrence of various <i>Fusarium</i> species in the extreme environment of mangrove soil, thereby contributing to the knowledge on species diversity in <i>Fusarium</i>.
|
|---|