Development of a scar markerfor the molecular identification of the fungus Fusarium semitectum.

F. semitectum is a filamentous fungus showing remarkable characteristics, like the adaptability to a great range of hosts and environments and the unique metabolites production pattern. Its importance is proved by the crescent number of scientific papers published in the last years regarding this species. F. semitectum infections were reported in cotton, banana, alfalfa, melon, soybean. This fungus was also isolated from rice, but its pathogenicity still has to be proved. F. semitectum can produce fibrinolytic enzymes, mycotoxins (type A trichotecenes, zearalenone), antibiotics (equisetin, epi-equisetin) and a broad range of metabolites with antifungal (fusapyrone, deoxyfusapyrone) or zootoxic (beauvericin) activity. In the present work we set up a new laboratory protocol for the molecular identification of this fungus. RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) technique was used to identify a species-specific amplification product. RAPD was combined with a fast DNA extraction method that generated reproducible band patterns. The selected fragment was cloned, sequenced and a primer pair (Fs1, Fs2) was developed to specifically detect F. semitectum using conventional PCR. The new SCAR marker was used to perform a mycological screening on rice, a species of great economical importance in Northern Italy.