Biotyping of some toxigenic Fusarium species by the yeast killer system

Sixty selected killer yeasts were tested against 44 isolates of Fusarium belonging to 5 different species (14 isolates of F. sporotrichioides, 10 of F. chlamydosporum, 10 of F. tricinctum, 6 of F. solani and 4 of F. poae). Based on the system used, it was possible to observe markedly different biotypes both among and within Fusarium species. In particular, F. sporotrichioides, F. poae, F. chlamydosporum, and F. tricinctum showed 8, 4, 6, 6 different biotypes, respectively, whereas no susceptibility was found in F. solani. The results obtained suggest that the yeast killer system may be utilized in the evaluation of the biodiversity, as well as in the biological control and for epidemiological purposes.