Characterisation of Fusarium fujikuroi species complex contaminated maize in Egypt and detection of the fumonisin B 1 biosynthetic gene

Maize is a globally important cereal crop for food and feed, ranking third in production after wheat and rice. Fusarium species are among its most significant fungal pathogens. Members of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex cause ear rot, resulting in severe yield losses and the accumulation of harmful mycotoxins in kernels, posing serious risks to human and animal health. The objective of this study was to identify species within the F. fujikuroi complex contaminating maize samples and to detect the fumonisin B1 gene. Based on macroscopic, microscopic and molecular identification using species-specific primers (PRO1/PRO2 for F. proliferatum and FV-F2/FV-R for F. verticillioides), a total of 229 isolates representing six species were recovered from 100 maize samples. Characterisation revealed that F. proliferatum was the dominant species associated with maize, followed by F. verticillioides. Molecular detection of fumonisin B1 was performed using primers targeting the FUM1 gene, F. verticillioides exhibited FUM1 gene.