A molecular approach to the detection of potential trichothecene producing fungi

A pair of primers was designed from conserved regions of the Tri5 genes of Fusarium sporotrichioides, F. poae, Gibberella pulicaris, and G. zeae. A test panel of 64 different species and varieties of Fusarium, as well as isolates belonging to other fungal genera, bacteria, and plants was tested for a positive reaction in an optimized PCR assay. A fragment of the appropriate size (650 bp) was produced with DNA of 18 species and varieties of Fusarium and of Cladobotryum dendroides NRRL 2903. The method was used to detect trichothecene producing fusaria in contaminated wheat malt samples. Tri5-PCR product sequences were used for the development of primers specific to subgroups of trichotecene producers.