FUSARIUM

Laboratory Guide to the Identification of the

Major Species

by

C. Booth

Assistant Director

Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Ferry Lane, Kew, Surrey

A ,.to.mlr Assis Henning

~Isador Embrapa ~ola
MatriCUla 11001

Commonwealth Mycological Institute

Kew, Surrey, England

I977
FUSARIUM
Laboratory Guide to the Identification of the

Major Species

by
C. Booth

Assistant Director

Comrnonwealth .Mycological Institute, Ferry Lane, Kew, Surrey

".

Commonwealth Mycological Institute

Kew, Surrey, England

1977
 First published March 1977 by the Commonwealth Mycological Institute
under the authority of the
Executive Council, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux,
Farnham Royal, Slough, England

© Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, 1977. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically,
mechanicall\ by photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the
copyright owner.
ISBN o 85198 3839

This and other publications of the

Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux
can be obtained through any major bookseller or
direct from
Central Sales Branch, Cornmonwealth AgriculturalBureaux,
Farnham Royal, Slough SL2 3BN, England

2
 CONTENTS
Page
lntroduction 4
Species Key 5
Methods and Media 7
Fusarium oxysporum 12
F. solani 14
F. moniliforme 16
F. moniliforme varo subglutinans 18
F. moniliforme varo anthophilum 19
F. decemcellulare 20
F. poae 22
F. tricinctum 24
F. equiseti 25
F. acuminatum 27
F. lateritium 28
F. stilboides ... 3°
F. udum 31
F. xylarioides ... 32
F. fusarioides l ••
33
F. sporotrichioides 35
F. semitectum 37
F. avenaceum 39
F. graminearum 4° ./
F. hete{osporum 42
F. sulpl!ureum 44
F. sambucinum 45
F. sambucinum varo coeruleum 47
F. culmorum 49
F. nivale 51
F. dimerum 52
F. tabacinum 54
F. aquaeductuum 55
F. merismoides 57
Bibliography 58

3
 INTRODUCTION

This laboratory guide is an attempt to illustrate the diagnostic characters which

are used to separate the most frequently occurring Fusarium species, and to provide a
key for their identification. Those species occurring on insects or as parasites of
Sphaeriaceous fungi are not included.

For further information on Fusarium species, including details of synonymy, hosts

and geographical distribution, reference can be made to the book 'The Genus
Fusarium' by C. Booth (Commonwealth Mycological Institute, 1971),

The characters used in the key are those which can be observed after 7-10 days of
growth in culture. Perithecial states are mentioned where known, but they seldom
develop on normal culture plates, except in F. xylarioides, in which perithecial initials
form readily, or in certain homothallic strains of F. solam'.

,
 SPECIES KEY
I. Cultures slow growing : growth rate below 2 em 27
I. Growth rate above 2 em, usually 4-8 em 2
2. Conidia variable, no clear distinetion between micro and maeroconidia
14.
2. Conida uniform or may be distinction between micro and macroconidia
3
3. Microconidia present in abundance, macroeonidia present or absent
4
3. Microconidia sparse or absent, macroconidia usually present
16
4. Microconidia formed in chains. S
4. Mieroconidia not formed in ehains. 6
S. Cultures creamy, pale beige to deep violet ; macroconidia scattered often sparse
or absent * F. moniliforme (3)
5. Cultures crimson-rose ; maeroeonidia formed in creamy-yellow pustules
F. decemcellulare (6)
6. Microconidia formed from simple phialides, borne laterallyon hyphae or on
conidiophores. 7
6. Microconidia formed as blastospores or from polyphialides
11
7. Culture pigmentation beige, blue, violet or white 8
7. Culture pigmentation red, vinaceous 10
8. Microconidia globose, pale or non-pigmented strains F. poae (7)
8. Microeonidia oval, pyriform or cylindrical ,. 9
9. Mieroconidiophores well developed with long phialides, often elaborately
branched after a few days. F. solani (2)
9. Mieroconidia formed from lateral phialides, microconidiophores poorly de-
veloped often absent or at most a foot eell with 1-3 apical phialides
F. oxysporum (1)
10. Microconidia globose F. poae (7)
10. Mieroconidia ovoid to pyriform F. tricinctum (8)
I I. Microconidia formed from polyblastic conidiogenous cells
12
I I.Microconidia formed, at least in part, from polyphialides
13
12. Microconidia fusiform to clavate, 8-12 x 2.S-4!l F. fusarioides (IS)
12. Microeonidia obovate to clavate 6-20 x 2.S-4,u F. sporotrichioides (16)
13. Microconidia clavate F. moniliforme v.
. subglutinans (4)
13. Both clavate and globose to oval microeonidia present F. moniliforme v.
anthophilum (S)
14. Conidia 1-3 septate, more or less evenly eurved F. nivale (2S)
14. Conidia I-S septate with uncinate or hooked apical cell
IS
IS. Cultures sulphureous, ·pink becoming salmon-orange, occasional strains with
violet pigmento No peritheeial initials. F. udum (13)
15. Cultures colourless, pale peach with adpressed myeelium, violet pigmentation
formed with produetion of perithecial initials F. xylarioides (14)
16. First formed eonidia produeed from polyblastic conidiogenous eells
17
16. Conidia formed from simple phialides 18
I Primary conidia with wedge-shaped foot cells; eultures from below beige brown
beeoming dark brown F. semitectum (17)
I Primary eonidia with pointed or fusoid foot cell ; cultures from below red to
reddish brown. F. avenaceum (18)
8. Macroconidia with uneinate or hooked apical eell F. lateritium (11)
Maeroeonidia with eurved, beaked or elongated apieal eell
19
=Pigmenration throughout based 00 growth 00 PSA agar, pH 6.5-7.
s
19. Cultures from below pink, beige, salmon, sulphureous to brown
20
19. Cultures from below carmine red to dark reddish purple
22
20. Cultures from below sulphureous ; conidia 3-4 septate, 23-32 x 3.5-4.u
F. sulphureum (21)
20. Cultures from below colourless, pink or beige becoming pale to dark brown;
conidia up to 60fJ· long 21
21. Chlamydospores in knots or chains ; cultures beige becoming pale to dark brown
F. equiseti (9)
21. Chlamydospores extremely sparse usually absent ; cultures pale pink or peach
F. heterosporum (20)
22. Apex of macroconidia elongated, narrowing evenly to a point or with extreme
elongation of apical cell 23
22. Apical cell of macroconidia strongly curved to ventral side to form a beak
25
23. Chlamydospores formed in knots or chains F. acuminatum (10)
23. Chlamydospores sparse or absent 24
24. Conidia 30-60 x 3.5-5.u ; chlamydospores may or may not be present
F. graminearum (19)
24. Conidia 40-80 x 2.5-4.u ; chlamydospores always absent
F. avenaceum (18)
25· Conidia not more than 5.u wide F. sambucinum (22)
25· Conidia between 5 and 7.u wide 26
26. Conidia 30-50 x 5-7.u F. culmorum (24)
26. Conidia 25-35 x 5-6.u F. sambucinum v.
coeruleum (23)
27. Species occurring on, or isolated from, Sphaeriaceous fungi.
(These species are not included in this key).
27. Isolates not originating from Sphaeriaceous fungi 28
28. Conidia over 30.u long 29
28. Conidia 30.u or less in length 3°
29. Macroconidia 30-70 x 3.5-4.u F. merismoides (29)
29. Macroconidia variable but 3-5 septate are 40-65 x 3-4.u
F. aquaeductuum
(Aggr.) (28)
3°· Conidia strongly curved and pointed at the apex, chlamydospores often present
F. dimerum (26)
3°· Conidia gently curved with rounded apex : chlamydospores absent
31
31. Conidia 15-30 x 3-5.u F. nivale (25)
31. Conidia 12-16_ x 3-4.u F. tabacinum (27)
 METHODS AND MEDIA

Isolations from Soil

Fusarium species are of frequent occurrence in most soils and because of their
competitive ability can be easily isolated in the presence of Phycomycetes, dry-spored
moulds, Actinomycetes or bacteria. In order to do this a weak medium such as tap
water agar (media 4 below) or a specially selected medium such as 5 below should be
used. The surface of the agar should be allowed to dry in a cool dark place so that any
water from a dilute soil or spore suspension is absorbed by the dried agar ; this prevents
the rapid spread of bacteria, actinomycetes or phycomycetous fungi into a developing
Fusarium colony.
Subcultures should be taken from the edge of a developing colony as soon as this
can be observed under a dissecting microscope (see Nash & Snyder, 1962).

Isolations from Plant Material

Fusarium sporódochia found on woody stems or other plant tissue should be
moistened and a dilute spore suspension made from the mass of spores.
Fusarium species causing wilt penetrate the vascular tis sue in the stem or roots.
These are best isolated by surface sterilising small segments or sections of the material
preferably with Chlorox (sodium hypochlorite) although mercuric chloride, a1cohol,
hydrogen peroxide or silver nitrate can also be used (see chart). After a final thorough
washing in distilled water the ends of the tis sue are sliced off with a sterile scalpel
and the centre sections placed on a PDA or PSA (see media 1 and 2) plate. After
24-36 h at 20-25°C (14-18° for suspected F. nioaley- Fusarium mycelium should
have grown out sufficiently from the plant material to be re-isolated on - a suitable
- e. For identification purposes PSA (see media I) has been found eminently
o e but not essential. PDA or OA are also satisfactory.

íngle Spore Isolation

There is no evidence for the assumption that Fusarium mycelium growing out of
t tissue or from soil particles will necessarily belong to a single species and much
sion has been caused by trying to identify mixed cultures. To avoid this and to
ensure isolates are pure, working with single spore isolations is strongly recommended.
In fact a series of isolates grown from single spores demonstrate species characteristics
and uniform growth much more clearly than mass transfer of inoculum.
The simplest and most economical way of obtaining a series of single spore cultures
- as follows :-
A drop of sterile water is placed on a sterile slide under the dissecting microscope.
accumulation of spores is obtained on the wet tip of a needle either from a sporo-
hium or from aerial mycelium. The tip of the needle is then introduced into the
- p of water on the slide and the spores can be observed to fiow from the tip of the
- eedle into the drop of water. When the suspension is adequate the point of the needle
. any remaining spores is withdrawn. Experience of the correct dilution can easily
acquired ; it is approximately the point when the individual spores are distinguish-
e in the water drop and not obscured by overlapping. (If the concentration is toe
e difficulties will be experienced in subsequently removing single spores from
• ~ plate.) The spore suspension on the slide is then picked up by a sterile loop and
ked across a clear agar plate, the position of the streaks being marked by crayon
on the bottom of the petri-dish. The plate is then incubated for 12-16 h at 25°C.
_ ollowing the lines under the low power of a compound microscope germination
.: - e conidia can be observed and those which 'are suitably clear1y positioned can be
oved on a small 1 mm square of the agar by a fine knife or fiattened tip of a needle
. transferred to a petri-dish or test tube.

laiion of Sporulation
bsequent growth of the isolated spores will form a colony suitable for identification
bated at 22-25°C in the light, for 7-10 days. In single spore isolates abundant
~ ation usually occurs after this time. This is not necessarily true with old cultures
- have become stale by transmission through the post or because of prolonged
in artificial culture. Spore production can usually be stimulated in staled
rures by the use of one of the following methods :-
I. Single spore cultures obtained from some of the few, often abnormal spores
usually present in staled cultures.
2. Scraping off the aerial mycelium, washing the surface of the agar with several
changes of sterile distilled water and re-incubation of plate.
3. Placing 1 em squares of agar cut from the culture into sterile water in a sterile
petri-dish.
4. Re-subculture and incubate at 14-18°C.
5. Place 3-4 day old cultures under a bank of two daylight or 'true light' fluorescent
tubes and one near-ultraviolet (black light) tube on a 12 hr onroff cycle.
Strains of Fusarium graminearum which do not sporulate readily often respond to
methods 2 or 3 (see also media 7). F. heterosporum sporulates abundantly under
method 5. Non-sporulating strains of F. nivale and F. aquaeductuum respond to
method 4.
Sporogenous Cells and Slide Cultures
The method of spore production and the nature of the sporogenous cell is a critical
character in the identification of Fusarium species. The best method of observation
of these and especially if one is unfamiliar with their appearance is to grow them in slide
culture (Riddell, 1950). Such cultures are simple to prepare and easily converted
into semi-permanent reference slides.

Slide Cultures
Pour a plate of suitable agar about 3 mm thick and for each slide culture cut out a
6 mm square. This is placed in the centre of a sterile slide and inoculated on each of the
vertical faces with a minute quantity of inoculum on the point of a needle. A sterile
cover slip is then placed on top of the agar. The slide culture is then placed in a damp
chamber and incubated until the mycelium which develops on each face has reached
the edge of the cover slip. If the medium is not toa rich abundant sporulation should
have occurred by this time and spores and sporogenous cells will be adhering to
the under side of the cover slip and around the agar on the surface of the slide. The
cover slip is then removed and mounted in suitable mountant (dilute cotton blue in
lactophenol) on a fresh slide. The agar is then removed from the culture slide and
discarded and a drop of mountant placed in the centre. This is then covered with a
cover slip and sealed.
The damp chamber is best made from a large 6 in. culture dish with filter paper in the
bottom soaked in water or water plus 20 per cent glycerol. Two glass rods are placed
on the filter paper to act as a rest for the slide or slides.

8
Media

GENERAL GROWTH MEDIA

I. Potato Sucrose Agar
500 ml potato extract *
20 g sucrose
20 g agar
500 ml distilled water
The water and potato extract are mixed together and the sucrose and agar added.
The mixture is heated slowly until the agar is dissolved and the pH adjusted if neces-
sary to 6.5 with calcium carbonate. It is then dispensed in suitable bottles and auto-
claved at 15 psi for 20 mino
*(Potato extract is prepared from 1800 g of mature main crop potatoes peeled and diced ana sus-
pended in muslin in 4500 ml of water and boiled for 10 mino The potatoes are then discarded and
the liquor placed in large glass containers and autoc1aved at 15 psi for 20 mino It can be stored in a
refrigerator for use as required.)

2. Potato Dextrose Agar

200 g potato (scrubbed and diced)
15 g dextrose
20 g agar
I litre water
New potatoes should be avoided. Boil potatoes for 1 hr and pass the mixture through
a fine sieve, add .agar and boil until dissolved, add dextrose and stir ; autoclave at
. for 20 mino

3. Oatmeal Agar
30 g oatmeal (powdered)
20 g agar
I litre water
Add oatmeal to water and gradually heat to boiling in a water bath or double sauce-
pan 'and boil for 1 hr. Strain through musIin and make up liquor to 1 Iitre with water.
Add agar and dissolve. Autoclave at 15 psi for 20 mino

SOIL ISOLATION MEDIA

4. Tapwater Agar
15 g agar
I Iitre tapwater
SteriIe wheat straw or rice grains may be added for use as a general medium.
Many fusaria sporulate well on this.

5. Nash & Snyder's (1962) Peptone PCNB Medium

15 g Difco peptone
20 g agar
I g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO~)
0.5 g magnesium sulphate (MgSO~ 7H20)
I g pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB 75 per cent wettabIe powder)
300 ppm streptomycin (when cooled)> .
=Lim (1974) added neomycin (roougjrnl) to this medium.

Papavizas' (1967) Peptone-PCNB modified

15 g Difco peptone
20 g agar
I g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO~)
0.5 magnesium sulphate (MgSO~ 7H20)
0.5 g PCNB-(Terraclor, a commercial product, is 75 per cent active)
0.5 g oxgall
100 mg streptomycin suIphate .
50 mg chlortetracycline HCI
The Iast two components are thermolabile and should be added to the cooled agar.
9
 MEDIA USED TO STIMULATE SPORULATION

7. CMC medium for stimulation of sporulation in Fusarium graminearum (Cappel-

lini & Peterson, 1965)
15 g carboxymethylcellulose (CMC 7MP-Hercules Powder Co.)
I g ammonium nitrate (NH~NOa)
I g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH~PO~)
0.5 g magnesium sulphate (MgSO~ 7H20)
I g yeast extract
I litre distilled water
Used for shake cultures.

8. Bilay's medium modified by [offe

I g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO~)
I g potassium nitrate (KN03)
0.5 g magnesium sulphate (MgSO~ 7HzO)
0.5 g potassium chloride (KCl)
0.2 g starch powder
0.2 g glucose
0.2 g sucrose
15 g agar
I litre water
Strips of pure cellulose lens paper were added before the agar had set.

MEDIA USED TO INCREASE INOCULUM

Many liquid media have been published : the following are frequently used.

9. Cerelose ammonium nitrate medium (Scheffer & Walker, 1953)

50 g Cerelose
10 g ammonium nitrate (NH4NOa)
5 g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KHzPO~)
0.02 g ferric chloride (FeCl3 6HzO)
I litre water

10. Armstrong Fusarium medium

20 g sucrose or glucose
0.4 g magnesium sulphate (MgSOl 7H~O)
1.6 g potassium chloride (KCl)
LI g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KHzPOJ)
5.9 g calcium nitrate (Ca(N03)z)
Ferric chloride (FeC13)
Manganese sulphate (MnSOJ) L o 22 f h
Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO~) J. ppm o eac

11. Medium used to study staling of Fusarium oxysporum (Park, 1961)

0.7 g glucose
0.5 g magnesium sulphate (MgSO~ 7HzO)
0.2 g potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH~P04)
0.1 g ammonium nitrate (NH~N03)
15 g agar
I litre distilled water

10
 MEDIA FOR PERITHECIAL PRODUCTION

12. Wheat or rice straw or plant stems in petri-dishes or longer pieces standing in tap
. water agar or in water in large medical flats or other suitable containers.
TABLE I

Concen-
Surface sterilizing agent tration Time Rinsing agent
(per cent) (min)

Formaldehyde in sol. 51 1-5 70 per cent ethyl a1cohol then

sterile water
Hydrogen peroxide 3 1-5 Sterile water
Potassium permanganate 2 1-5 Sterile water
Sodium or ca1cium hypochlorite* 0·35 1-5 Sterile water
Mercuric chloride ** 0.001 1-5 70 per cent ethyl a1cohol then
sterile water
Ethyl a1cohol 75 1-5 Sterile water
Silver nitrate I 1-5 Sterile sodium chloride then
sterile water
=Norrnally a 1-10 dilution of commerciaI solution (ChIorox) is sufficient.

**Usually made up from stock soIution (HgCl22og and cone. HCI to make 100 mI) 5 ml and
995 mI water. -

GROWTH RATE

Determinations of growth rates follow Gordon (1952) and represent the average
colony diameter of a number of single conidial isolates on potato sucrose agar (pH 6.5)
maintained at 25°C for four days.

PIGMENTATION

AlI colour terms used in this text are defined in relationship to those used by Rayner
(1970). The cultures were exposed 12-14 inches below two day light fluorescent
tubes. This exposure is not critical and exposure to normal summer daylight is
adequate for purposes of determination.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND LINE DRA WINGS

All photographs were taken from water mounts or mounts of lactophenol and
dilute cotton blue ; all are printed x 800 unless otherwise stated. Line drawings were
made by use of a Leitz drawing apparatus and are x 1800.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I wish to thank Mrs. G.B. Butterfill for continued technical help, Mr. D. W.
Fry for producing the photographs and Mrs. M. S. Rainbow for kindly typing the
manuscript. In particular I wish to thank the rnany contributors who have over the
years supplied thousands of cultures and specimens.
(I) FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM Schlecht., Flora Berol. 2 : 139, 1824

Growth rate 4.5 em.

Culture pigmentation white, peach, salmon, vinaceous grey to purple, violet.

Microconidia oval-ellipsoid, cylindrical, straight or curved, 5-12 x 2.2-3.5.u, produced

from simple short lateral phialides.

Macroconidia generally 3-5 septate, 27-60 x 3-5.u.

Chlamydospores globose, formed singly or in pairs, intercalary or on short lateral

branches.
Chromosome number = 12.
Perithecial state ? Gibberella not eonfirmed.
Diagnostic characters : The short simple phialides producing the microconidia separate
it from F. solani and together with presence of chlamydospores from F. moniliforme
and its varieties.

I
I
I

13
(2) FUSARIUM SOLANI (Mart.) Saee., Michelia a : 296, 1881

Growth rate 3.2 em.

Culture pigmentation greyish-white to blue or bluish-brown.

Microeonidia 8-16 x 2-4,u, eylindrieal to oval and may beeome 1- septate, produeed
from long lateral phialides 45-80 x 2.5-3p, laterally borne or on branehed
eonidiophores.

Maeroconidia from the side inequilaterally fusoid with widest point above the centre,
length variable in different strains, i.e. 1-5 septate, 35-55 x 4·5-6p, 5-9
septate,35-55 x 4.5-6,u, 5-9 septate, 45-100 x 5-8p.
Chlamydospores globose, smooth to rough walled, 9-12 x 8-10,u borne singly or in
pairs on short lateral branehes or interealary.

Chromosome number = 8.
Perithecial state Nectria haematococca Berk. & Br.

Ascospores ellipsoid to ovate, Il-18 x 4-7,u, beeoming light brown with longitudinal
striations.

'~ ..
, '
.

. .
,
.
". '",.....
li
J
\'
,

.. ,-"
.
..

'

.,
.j "
~ 'I

14
 , I
A .

.'
c

Diagnostic characters distinguishing it from F. oxysporum are the long phialides and
e branched often elaborate microconidiophores and the shape of the macroconidia .
. solam' varo coeruleum causes powdery rot of potatoes in storage. It usually has a
- ong dark violet-blue pigmentation, reduced microconidial formation and the
occasional production of polyphialides producing the macroconidia.
(3) FUSARIUM MONILIFORME Sheldon, Rep. Neb. agric: Exp. Stn 17 : 23-32
19°4

Growth rate 4.6 em.

Culture pigmentation : peaeh salmon, vinaeeous purple to violet.

Mieroeonidia fusoid to clavate, 5-12 x 1.5-2.5.u, oeeasionally beeoming 1- septate

and produeed in ehains from subulate lateral phialides, 20-30.u long by 2.3.u
at the base.

Maeroeonidia : some strains do not readily form maeroeonidia but when present
they are in equilaterally fusoid, thin walled, 3-7 septate, 25-60 x 2.5-4.u.

Chlamydospores absent but globose stromatic initial eells may be present in some
cultures.

Chromosome number = 7.

Perithecial state Gibberella fujikuroi (Sawada) Wollenw. Ascospores 1-3 septate,

14-18 x 4.5-6.u.

- ,

---,.~
,
\ "' •. ,.~
\

.•... -
'\,X - "-r---~
+-/- I
-~- ...
//"
.. ,
 •• .,//r .
• M,..

...
..•...
•
(
I.

.
.• ro'
;.•..•
r
!~!1
.. .' .. '

,I 1

11
, t!

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Diagnostic characters : This species has similar pigmentation to F. oxysporum but

it is readily separated from this species by the chains of microconidia which can be best
observed in situ in a pIate culture under the low power of a compound microscope.
The absences of chlamydospores is also a point of separation.
(4) FUSARIUM MONILIFORME varo SUBGLUTINANS Wollenw. & Reink.
Phytopathology 15 : 163, 1925
Growth rate 4.5 em.
Culture appearanee and pigmentation is the same as F. moniliforme.

Mieroconidia form from polyphialides and accumulate in globose heads, chains not
produced; they are oval to obdavate, 8-12 x 2.5-3fl.

Macroconidia when present formed from simple phialides; they are 3-5 septate and
measure 32-53 x 3-4.5fl.
Chlamydospores not produced.
Perithecial state Gibberella fujikuroi var. subglutinans Edwards

Ascospores 1-3 septate, 12-15 x 4.5-5fl .

.,
•

Diagnostic eharaeters : The presence of polyphialides producing uniform mieroconidia

is a readily observable diagnostic character.
18
(5) FUSARIUM MONILIFORME varo ANTHOPHILUM(A.· Braun) Wollenw.
Z. Parasitenk. 3 : 397-399, 1931.

Growth rate 4.5 em.

Cultural eharaeteristies are the same as for F. moniliforme.

Mieroeonidia formed both from simpie phialides and polyphialides, two distinet types
are present ; a, fusoid to allantoid, 6-9 x 2-3.u ; b, oval to globose, 5-5.8 x
3·5-5·5.u·
Macroconidia when present are curved, fusoid, 3-5 septate, 30-50 x 3-4.u.
Ch1amydospores absent.
Perithecial state unknown.

li
/
.

/ .

Diagnostic characters : The presenee of two morphologieally distinct mieroconidial

- rms readily separates this variety from F. moniliforme varo subglutinans and the pre-
_ nee of polyphialides separates both varieties from the parent strain.
(6) FUSARIUM DECEMCELLULARE Briek, Jber. ver. Angew Bot. 6 : 227, 1908

Growth rate 3.2 em.

Cultural pigmentation : rose darkening to red, aerial myeelium white but pustules of
maeroeonidia eream to yellow.

Mieroeonidia formed in ehains from well developed phialides. They are oval, aseptate
to t-septate, 10-15 x 3-5,u.

Maeroeonidia formed on sporodoehia from well developed phialides ; they are 7-10
septate, 55-130 x 6-10,u.

Chlamydospores absent.

Chromosome number = 7.

Perithecial state Calonectria rigidiuscula Berk & Br. Aseospores 3 septate, 22-28 x 7-
10,u with longitudinal striations.
 \

iagnostic character : F. moniliforme and F. decemcellulare are the only two Fusarium
ies producing microconidia in chains. Apart from this common factor they are
ct in almost every other character, spore shape and size, pigmentation, perithecial

21
(7) FUSARIUM POAE (Peek) Wollenw. m Lewis, Buli. Me agric. Exp. Stn 219 :
254-258, I9I3

Growth rate 7.6 em.

Culture pigmentation: white, yellow, salmon to livid-red or vmaceous, eolours

somewhat unstable and some strains remain eolourless.

Microeonidia ampulliform, 8-I2 x 7-IOj-l, to globose, 7-IOj-l diam., formed from lateral
pores or small globose to obclavate phialides.

Maeroeonidia when present 3-septate, 20-40 x 3-4.5j-l.

Chlamydospores globose, formed sparsely, singly, or in ehains in older eultures.

Chromosome number = 6.
Perithecial state unknown.

22
 .I
J,' '
.~ •

< «,

íagnostic characters : The globose microconidia formed from phialides are specific
rhis species. This high growth rate also separates it from the related F. tricinctum.
_ ~_1. .
(8) FUSARIUM TRICINCTUM (Corda) Sacc., Sylloge Fung. 4 : 700, 1886
Growth rate 4.0 em.
Culture pigmentation carmine, red to purple.

Mieroeonidia ovate to pyriform, 7-14 x 4.5-7.5,1l, beeoming r-septate and produeed

by subulate phialides.

Maeroeonidia 3-5 septate, 24-50 x 3.5-4.6,u.

Chlamydospores when present, globose, IO-I2,u diam., interealary, single or in chains,

or occasionally borne on short lateral branches.
Perithecial state unknown.

Diagnostic charactersare the red pigmentation and the pyriform to obovoid micro-
conidia produced from simpie phialides. Although similar to F. poae, which has more
globose microconidia, it also has a much slower growth rate.

24
Growth rate 5.9 em.

Culture pigmentation : peaeh usually ehanging to avellaneous and finally beeoming

buffbrown.

Maeroeonidia only are produeed and these may be variable in size and are produeed
, from single solitary or grouped phialides; eonidia 4-7 septate, 22-60 x 3.5-
9ft, often with elongated apical eell.

Chlamydospores globose, 7-9ft diam., interealary, solitary in ehains or c1umps.

Chromosome number = 8.

Perithecial state Gibberella intricans Wollenw. Ascospores 1-3 septate, 21-33 x 4-

s-s».

25
Diagnostic characters : The sequence of pigmentation is similar to F. semitectum
but no blastospores are produced. Pigmentation readily separates it from F. acumina-
tum.
(10) FUSARIUM ACUMINATUM Ellis & Everhart, Proc. Acad. Sei. Philadelphia
441,1895.
Growth rate 4.5 em.
Culture pigmentation : saffron to bay to earmine red.

Maeroeonidia only are produeed ; they are variable in different isolates, 3-7 septate,
30-70 x 3.5-5,u often with an ineurved e1ongation of the apieal eell, and
are produeed from phialides.

Chlamydospores are interealary in knots or ehains.

Perithecial state Gibberella acuminata Wr. Heterothallic, aseospores 13-22 x 6-7,u .

.,.

~"'VI:>tieeharaeters : Varation in spore forrn is similar to F. equiseti but earmine

entation is quite distinet.
(I1) FUSARIUM LATERITIUM Nees, Syst. Pilze Schwamme p. 31, 1817 : Link.
Spec. Plant. 6 (2) : 106, 1824

(irovvth rate == 2.8crn.

Cultural pigmentation variable peach to deep orange, vinaceous to reddish brown,

greenish yellow to blue-black.

Macroconidia only produced generally in sporodochia are 3-7 septate, beaked at the
apexyzz-yo x 3.5-5.5.u, formed from simple phialides.
Chlamydospores form sparsely arid are oval to globose, 7-10 x 7.u or 7-8.u diam.

Perithecial state : Gibberella baccata (Wallr.) Sacc.; ascospores 12-18 x 4.5-7.5.u.

 ... ~
.,.
f.

Diagnostic characters : Straight beaked macroconidia, pigmentation, perithecial state.

'JQ
(12) FUSARIUM STILBOIDES Wollenw., Fus. auto. del. 615, 1924.

Growth rate 3-0 em.

Cultural pigmentation : characteristic carmine red with white floccose mycelium be-
comes reddish-brown later.

Macroconidia only produced; they are 3-7 septate.zo-Bz x 3-4· 5p., formed from simple .
phialides or borne in sporodochia.

Chlamydospores formed sparsely both intercalary and on short lateral branches;

they are globose, 8-13,u diam.

Perithecial state Gibberella stilboides Gordon ex Booth; ascospores 1-3 septate,

12-18 x 4-5.5,u-

Diagnostic characters : The appearance of the species in culture, its spore form and
its association with scaly bark disease and dieback of coffee are characteristic features.
'l{\
3) FUSARIUM UDUM Butler, Mem. Dep. Agric. lndia, Bot. ser. 2 (9) : 54, 1910.
rowth rate 4.2 em.

nlture pigmentation : pale sulphureus to rose buff becoming salmon orange with
produetion of conidia, oeeasional strains have purple pigmentation.
nidia variable with a strongly eurved or hooked apex, 6-8 x 3-3.5.u and 30-40 x 3-
3.5.u but with no clear distinction between miero and maeroeonidia.
amydospores often sparse, oval to globose, 8-I1 x 8-12.u.

eritheeial state unknown.

iagnosric eharaeters: Extremely variable eonidia with strongly eurved apex and
. ed host range on Cajanus and Gratalaria.
(14) FUSARIUM XYLARIOIDES Steyaert, Bull. Soe. r. Boi. Belg. 80 : 1-2,42,1948

(irovvth rate 4.0 em.

Culture pigmentation : pale almost colourless but in some strains becoming deep
violet often with the onset of production of perithecial initials, mycelium
sparse, felted to adpressed.

Conidia variable, curved with uncinateor hooked apex and marked foot cell, r-septate,
6-10 x 2.5,u, 2-3 septate, 10-30 x 3-3.5,u.

Chlamydospores rare or absent, pre-stroma cells often present.

Perithecial state Gibberella xylarioides Heim & Saccas, heterothallic, ascospores

1-3 septate, 15-20 x 5-6.5,u.

-'.

".
"

-:
','\ ,

'\

li
.
~-,~~~.--~~~~.~.~~.----~

Diagnostic characters : This species causes tracheomycosis and dieback of coffee ;

it is closely related to F. udum but differs, apart from host, in pigmentation and in the
presence of a perithecial state.
.,..,
(IS) FUSARIUM FUSARIOIDES (Frag. & Cif.) Booth, The Genus Fusarium p. 88,
1971.

Growth rate 4.S em.

Culture pigmentation : carmine, coral to red.

Microconidia O-I septate, clavate, 8-12 x 2.S-4.u produced as blastospores frorn

apex of sporogenous cell.

Macroconidia, when present, 3-S septate, 3°-46 x 3-5.u, produced from phialides.
Chlamydospores large, globose, up to 30.u diam. and becoming brown, formed in
chains or clumps.

Perithecial state unknown.

 /
~-~ ~",,-
~J'4--

~~ '<;;-'~'

~~",~ , 'I

.,~~\ 'V~'~ . {,
. ...-~
~~

Diagnostic characters : The small clavate microconidia formed as blastospores and

the large chlamydospores are characteristic.

34
(16) FUSARIUM SPOROTRICHIOIDES Sherb., Mem. Cornell Univ. agric. Exp.
Stn. 6 : 183, 1915.

Growth rate 3.5 em.

Culture pigmentation : surfaee myeelium white, agar livid red, becoming tinged with
brown.

Mieroeonidia c1avate to eymbiform, o-septate, 6-II x 2.5-4,u, r-septate, 8-24 x 2.5-4,u,

formed as blastospores from pegs more widely dispersed along the sporo-
genous eell than in F. fusarioides.

..\1.aeroeonidia generally 3-5 septate, 24-50 x 4-5,u.

ChIamydospores, when present, 7-151-' diam., intercalary or in groups.

Perithecial state unknown.

Diagnostic characters : The size, shape and method of formation of the microconidia.
(17) FUSARIUM SEMITECTUM Berk. & Rav. in Berkeley, Grevillea 3: 88, 1875
Cirovvthrate 6.1 cnn.
,
Culture pigmentation peach changing to avellaneous and finally becoming buff brown. "

Macroconidia of two types, primary and secondary.

Primary macroconidia with wedge-shape foot cell, 0-5 septate, 7.5-35 x 2.5-4.u,
formed as blastospores from polyblastic sympodial cells, up to five separate
spores formed by each cell.
Secondary macroconidía with typical heeled foot-cell, 3-7 septate, 20-46 x 3-5.5.u,
formed from phialides usually grouped in sporodochia. .

Chlamydospores often sparse, globose, 10-12/-L diam., becoming brown, interca1ary,

single or in chains.

Perithecial state not reported.

. .

8
 ;r. .,
-",.',, .
•
,
\ '~,
\:.,
".
"
..,

d.
••
;
I
t f

.
f
II
<

..'
•.., .•. t

"'. "" ~:.

-' -.' ~:.
> •

Diagnostic characters : Both F. semitectum and F. avenaceum produce primary (blas-

tosporic) and secondary (phialidic) macroconidia in fresh isolates. They are clearly
separated on pigmentation and spore form and by the presence of chlamydospores in
F. semitectum.

A "'om;r Ass;s Henn;~g

1"'.10. c brapa SOla
Pe~q\J\sa.dors;;m 10010
.ülncula 1
(18) FUSARIUM AVENACEUM (Fr.) Sacc., Sylloge Fung. 4 : 713, 1886.

Growth rate 5.4 em.

Culture pigmentation : aerial mycelium rose red fringed with white, yellowish brown
from below.

Macroconidia of two types, primary and secondary, in fresh isolates.

Primary macroconidia fusoid, 1-3 septate, 8-50 x 3.5-4.5.u produced from polyblastic
eonidiogenous cells.
j
Secondary macroconidia are the typical form produced from phialides often developing
in sporodochia; conidia 4-7 septate, 40-80 x 3.5-4.u. ,
Chlamydospores absent in mycelium, rarely formed in conidia. 1

Perithecial state Gibberella avenacea Cooke; not confirmed.

.I

/
t;
c.

A, mature secondary conidia.

B, formation of primary conidia,
C, secondary conidia.
Diagnostic characters: Presence
of primary (blastosporic) and

\
secondary (phialidic) macroconi-
dia. The long narrow secondary
macroconidia, absence of chlam-
ydospores and culture pigmentation
are also useful points of separa-
tion.
39
(19) FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM Schwabe, FI. Anhaltina 2 : 285, 1838

Growth rate 8.9 em.

Cultural pigmentation : rose, coral becoming vinaeeous with a brown tinge.

Maeroeonidia only produced from simple lateral phialides which may or may not
beeome grouped on branched conidiophores. Maeroconidia faleate generally
with an elongated apical cell narrowing gradually to a point; 3 septate,
30-50 x 3.5-4,u, 5-7 septate, 36 x 3·5-5,u·

Chlamydospores absent or rare; if present interealary, IO-I2/-L diam.

Chromosome number = 6.
Peritheeial state Gibberella zeae Schwabe; ascospores 3 septate, 20-24 x 4-5,u.
I

40
 '---_ ....•..
c.~~1l
"

Diagnostic characters : The long faleate macroconidia often formed sparsely in many
strains are characteristic. Many isolates of this species with floccose aerial mycelium
and rose to coral pigmentation produce neither macroconidia nor chlamydospores until
surface of colony is washed clean of mycelium and culture reincubated.

AI
(20) FUSARIUM HETEROSPORUM Nees ex Fr., Syst. mycol. 3 : 472, 1832.
Growth rate = 4.2 em.

Culture pigmentation pale pink to delieate peaeh, eonidial sporodoehia deep orange.
Some strains show reddish pigmentation later.

Maeroeonidia only, produeed from simple phialides, are eurved with an elongated apical
cell; 3 septate, 17-40 x 3-3·5.u, 5 septate, 38-55 x 4.u.
ChIamydospore formation very sparse.

Perithecial state Gibberella gordonia Booth ; ascospores 1-3 septate, 15.6-18.5 x 4-

4·5.u·
 /
/:

'\ \>-I-~-
p\\
; ;
I.

Diagnostic characters: This is the only Fusarium species whose macroconidial

production shows marked response to irradiation with near UV light. The name was
first used for the Fusarium with the above characters which causes head blight of
cereaIs and its use should be confined to these strains.
(21) FUSARIUM SULPHUREUM Schlecht., F/ora bero/. p. 139, 1824.

Growth rate 6.4 em.

Cultural pigmentation : cream, sulphureus to light brown.

Macroeonidia only produced, 3 septate, 23-32 x 3·5-4.u, 5 septate, 30-46 x 4.5.u.

Chlamydospores globose 8-10.u diam., formed sparsely, singly or in ehains.

Perithecial state Gibbere//a cyanogena (Desm.) Sace., ascospores 3 septate, 20-25 x 5.7.u.

.'..( v',,..,
'\ "
-,,'
.,- ~\ .
/..
f...
{

r I

Diagnostic characters : This species is allied to .F: sambucinum but the culture pigment
is distinct and the apical cells of the macroconidia are not usual1y beaked ; ascospores
are also narrower.
(22) FUSARIUM SAMBUCINUM Fuekel, Symb. mycol. p. 167, 1869.

Growth rate 5.2 em.

Culture pigmentation : peaeh to orange or oehreous, in some isolates vinaeeous to bay.

Macroconidia only produeed ; strongly dorsiventral with beaked apical eel1; 3 septate,
25-40 x 4-5.5,u, 5 septate, 40-53 x 4-5·5,u.
Chlamydospores, formed sparsely in knots or ehains, are globose, õ-r r« diam.

Perithecial state Gibberella pulicaris (Fries) Sacc.; ascospores 3 septate, 20-28 x 6-9,u.
Diagnostic characters: Macroconidia resemble those of F. culmorum in shape;
they are approximately the same length but are narrower. Cultures also have a slower
growth rate and a well known perithecial state.
(23) FUSARIUM SAMBUCINUM Fuekel varo COERULEUM Wollenw., Annls
mycol. 15 : 55, I9I7

Growth rate 4.8 em.

Cultural pigmentation : olivaeeous buff to olivaeeous or cinnamon and in other strains

reddish-purple.

Maeroeonidia only produeed. They are strongly eurved and with a beaked apical eell ;
3 septate, I7-30 x 5-6fl, 5 septate, 25-37 x 4.5-6fl.
Chlamydospores interealary, singly or in ehains, IO-14fl diam.

Perithecial state unknown.

 "

..
i-..

"
.--

", .. .' ,,' .: ~-~ , '.

"

-:
". .•.~h-. ......

o
'.
. ,...•...
,~

Diagnostic characters : The shorter curved spores readily separate this variety from the
parent strain. Spore production when abundant gives greenish-blue discolouration
on surface of culture.
(24) FUSARIUM CULMORUM (W. G. Smith) Saee., Sylloge Fung. 11 : 651, 1885.

Growth rate 8.5 em.

Cultural pigmentation : red beeoming reddish-brown.

Maeroeonidia only produeed; very uniform in shape, 3 septate, 27-36 x 5-7fl, 5

septate, 31-5° x 5-7.5fl. They are produeed from simple phialides borne
on eomplex, loosely branehed conidionhores.

Chlamydospores oval to globose, smooth to rough walled, 10-14 x 9-12fl formed

singly, in ehains or clumps.

Chromosome number = 8.

Perithecial state unknown.

t-
.,
r

\, .
\.

''"'i.
,.
~
...-:-- .
~
.-

Diagnostic characters : This is a very stable species readily separated from F. sam-
bucinum by the wider conidia. The conidial width, shape of apical cell in, and regular
presence of, macroconidia and chlamydospores separate it from F. graminearum.
Two other diagnostic features are a : the secretion of an oily non-water soluble
substance in 2-3 wks old cultures and b : the in situ germination of macroconidia
to produce aberrant microconidia from small phialides.
 (25) FUSARIUM NIVALE (Fr.) Ces., Rabenh. Klotzsch, Herb. Mycol. Ed. I. No.
1439, 1850.

Growth rate 1.3 CIn.

Culture pigmentation : white to pale peach, occasional1y apricot colour on the surface.

Conidia broadly falcate, 1-3 septate, 10-30 x 2.5-5,u.

Chlamydospores not observed.

Perithecial state Micronectriella nivalis (Schaffn.) Booth, homothallic, ascospores

I occasional1y 2-3 septate, 10-17 X 3.5-4.5,u.

Diagnostic characters : Slow growth, culture pigmentation, spore shape and size and
the presence of abundant proliferating phialides. Perithecial state readily develops in
fresh isolates.
(26) FUSARIUM DIMERUM Penz. in Saeeardo Michelia 2 : 484, 1882.

Growth rate 2.7 em.

Cultural pigmentation : orange beige to apricot.

Conidia somewhat heterogenous probably representing primary and seeondary eonidia

as oeeasional polyphialides develop, o-septate, 6.5-10.5 x 2.3-2.5.u, 1-2
septate. ro-az x 3-3.5.u.
Chlamydospores globose, oval to smooth, 8-u.u diam., interealary, formed, singly
or in ehains.
Perithecial state unknown.

lo}t
--,
--I

~-'.
h '
1':1/../
 1
g
:J f
I
., ( I'
.
(

...-~',.'\'

Diagnostic characters : Conidial form and presence of chlamydospores separate it

from the related species F. nivale and F. tabacinum.
(27) FUSARIUM TABACINUM (Beyma) W. Gams, Persoonia 5 : 179, 1968.

Growth rate 3.2 em.

Cultural pigmentation : eolourless to yellowish-salmon or oehraeeous beeoming light
brown.
Conidia 12-16 x 3.4,u, eylindrieal, straight or slight1y eurved with rounded apex
and wedge-shaped base.

Chlamydospores not observed.

Perithecial state Micronectriella cucumeris (Kleb.) Booth, homothallie; ascospores
I -septate, II -15 x 3·4,u·

Diagnostic eharaeters : This species is re1ative1yeommon and represents a marginal

or degenerate Fusarium species ; aerial myee1ium is general1yredueed and a pionnotal
form of growth is eommon.
(28) FUSARIUM AQUAEDUCTUUM Lagerh. (Aggr.), Z. ParasicKde Abt. 2, 9 :
. 655,189I.

Cirovvth rate 0.5 CT.n.

Cultural pigmentation : pale cream becoming orange or salmon pink with convoluted,
merismoid or fibrillose surface appearance.

Macroconidia formed from pionnote sporodochia; indistinctly 1-5 septate, variable

in length, 15-65 x 2.5-4,u.

Ch1amydospores absent.

Perithecial state : This is an aggregate species ; some strains produce perithecia refer-
able to Nectria purtonii (Grev.) Berk., ascospores 7-II x 3.5-5,u, but these
. have not been found in isolates from sewage or polluted water.
 · .

I'
/

Diagnostic characters : Slow grqwth, macroconidia and absence of chlamydospores.

This description refers primarily to isolates from sewage or polluted water. Other
strains with morphologically similar conidia occur as parasites on Sphaeriaceous fungi
and ma roduce perithecia of Nectria purtonii (Grev.) Berk.
(29) FUSARIUM MERISMOIDES Corda, Icones Fungorum 2 : 4, 1838.
Growth rate 0.9 em.

Cultural pigmentation : cream, peach to orange.

Macroconidia only are formed, usually from pionnotal sporodochia and cultures
have slimy appearance often without visible mycelium. Macroconidia
initially formed from single or in some strains polyphialides, are 30-70 x
3.5-4.5,u, aseptate becoming 3-4 septate.
Chlamydospores 8-1211- diam., often slow to form, intercalary, single or in chains.
Perithecial state unknown.

Diagnostic characters : Slow growth rate with slimy pionnotal sporodochia, presence
of polyphialides and spore size.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Armstrong, G. M.; Armstrong, J. K. (1975) Reflections on the wilt Fusaria. Annual

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Booth, C. (1971) The genus Fusarium. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew,
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Cappellini, R. A.; Peterson, J. N. (1965) Macroconidium formation in submerged
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Gordon, W. L. (1952) The occurrence of Fusarium species in Canada. 11. Prevalence
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Nash, S. M.; Snyder, W. C. (1962) Quantitative estimations by plate counts of propa-
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Nirenberg, H. (1976) Untersuchungen uber die morphologische und biologische
differenzierung in der Fusarium sektion Liseola. Mitteilungen aus der
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169, pp. l-II7·
Papavizas, G. C. (1967) Evaluation of various media and antimicrobial agents for
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Rayner, R. W. A. (1970) A mycological colour chart. Commonwealth Mycological
Institute, Kew, Surrey, England.
Riddell, R. W. (1950) Permanent stained mycological preparations obtained by slide
culture. Mycologia 42 : 265-27°.
Scheffer, R. P.; Walker, J. C. (1953) The physiology of Fusarium wilt of tomato.
Phytopathology 43 : II6-125·
Seemuller, E. (1968) Untersuchungen uber die morphologische und biologische
Differenzierung in der Fusarium-Sektion Sporotrichiella. Mitteilungen
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Dahlem, 127, pp. 1-93.
Toussoun, T. A.; Nelson, P. E. (1968) A pictorial guide to the identification of
Fusarium species. The Pennsylvania State University Press, University
Park and London, pp. 1-51.
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Annual Review of Phytopathology 13 : 71-82.