Graduate Student in Plant Pathology University of Milan Siena, Toscana, Italy
Body of Abstract: Fusarium wilt is caused by members of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) and is an important fungal disease worldwide. Host specificity in FOSC is given by differences in the effectors arsenal, including SIX (secreted in xylem) protein genes. Camelina Sativa (L) Crantz, a member of Brassicaceae family has gained attention as a reemerging oil-seed crop. Disease reported on the crop in 2018 led to the isolation of strains from camelina seeds. Koch’s postulates proved the ability of the two Fusarium oxysporum isolates to cause Fusarium wilt on camelina. Genome analysis of the strains (genome size 57.3 Mb) showed a unique SIX gene profile of the strains that may explain the differential infection capacity of different brassicacae plants. The strains are therefore different from other FOSC infecting brassicacae, including Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. raphani and conglutinans, suggesting the existence of a further differentiation within formae speciales infecting brassicacae.