Identification of Fusarium species associated with root rot symptoms of the rapeseed in Khuzestan province

Rapeseed is a host for a large number of pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, including Fusarium. During 2018–2020, 40 rapeseed samples showing yellowing, wilting and root rot were collected from different areas in Khuzestan province, which led to the isolation of 35 Fusarium isolates on potato-dextrose-agar (PDA). Ten isolates were selected based on the shape of the colonies and conidia and identified according to phylogenetic analysis and morphology. For molecular study, two regions including the internal transcribed spacer nuclear ribosomal DNA region (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) were amplified and sequenced. These sequences were analyzed by phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference algorithms. Accordingly, F. acuminatum, F. clavum, F. gracilipes, F. incarnatum and F. tanahbumbuense,and a representative species of the new lineage were identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the species Fusarium acuminatum, F. clavum, F. gracilipes, F. incarnatum and F. tanahbumbuense on rapeseed in Iran. Moreover, the species F. gracilipesis a new record for the Mycobiota of Iran.