Phylogenetic Analysis and Molecular Typing of Trichothecene-Producing Fusarium Fungi from Russian Collections.

We performed a three-locus phylogenetic analysis of strains presumably capable of trichothecene production, which were deposited in the Russian national collections. The intra- and interspecific polymorphism of partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha () gene and two genes from the trichothecene cluster and was studied. A study of 60 strains of different origins using DNA markers confirmed, and in the case for several strains, clarified their taxonomic characteristics. As a result, a strain of (F-900) was identified in Russia for the first time. Furthermore, the strain F-846 proved to be phylogenetically distinct from any of the known species. strains from Northwest Russia were found to belong to the North European group (I), whereas a strain from the North Caucasus - to the South European one (II). Partial sequences from 9 out of 12 species were determined for the first time. Their comparative analysis demonstrated a relatively high level of intraspecific variability in and , but no correlation between the sequence polymorphism and the geographic origin of the strains or their chemotype was found. Specific chemotypes of trichothecene B producers were characterized using two primer sets. The chemotyping results were verified by HPLC.