Presence of putative pathogenicity genes in isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense from Australia

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), causal agent of Fusarium wilt of banana, is among the most destructive pathogens of banana and plantain. Understanding pathogenicity in Foc is of key importance to disease management, yet its genetic basis is poorly understood. Recent research with F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), causal agent of Fusarium wilt of tomato, has elucidated the role of SIX-genes (secreted in xylem) in pathogenicity in the Fol-tomato pathosystem. Using hybridisation analysis and PCR, we detected homologues of three SIX-genes, SIX1, SIX7 and SIX8, in isolates of Foc from Australia and sequenced these putative Foc pathogenicity genes.