First Record of Fusarium poae, Wheat Root Rot Fungus in the North of Iraq

The Results of field survey conducted in Ninevah and Erbil governorates to assess the distribution of root rot disease in wheat have shown variability in infection levels. In Ninevah; the highest infestation of %27.5 was reported from Bashika, and lowest of %16.9 from Hamdaniyeh, and in Erbil;the highest infestation of %25.8 was reported in Grdy Mawan and lowest of %21.5 was in Khalwan. Isolates from root rot infected wheat plants shown the appearance of Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shomaker, Fusarium graminearium (Schwabe ), F. culmorum (Wm. G. Smith ) Sacc and and F.poae (Schwabe ) as first found and recorded on wheat in Iraq, the fungus B. sorokiniana recorded the highest isolation rate of %54.1 in Tallafar and lowest rate of %37.1 in Qapakian, followed by F.culmorum which recorded a range of isolation between % 22.1 and %25.4. Identification of isolated fungi were confirmed by conducting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) molecular test using 2 specific primers FP82F and FP82R. The expected PCR product (220 bp) obtained from a specific molecular marker (FP82), confirmed that they belong to fungus F. Poae. However, this is the first molecular study indicates clearly the presence of F. Poae in Iraq.