Paper Title
Isolation, Characterization and Molecular Identification of Some Fusarium Species

Abstract
The aim of this study was to isolated and identified pathogenic Fusarium species as well as studying the use of some plant extracts to control the Fusarium species so the most important pathogens on maize led to decrease of the yield and accumulation of one or more of Fusarium toxins. The current morphology based taxonomical system for Fusarium is not robust and highly similarity, and detection and identification procedures are both time consuming and some limitations were found. Thus the molecular characterization was performed with partial 18s rRNA gene sequencing using primer (5'-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG). Sequence analysis were identified the isolates at the molecular level these isolates namley Fusarium N1 and Fusarium N2, the sequence of these isolates were related to Fusarium sp. CCG-2012 with 85% homology and Fusarium sp. 91DZ/F isolate with 98% homology . The species identification based on sequence data correlated well with the morphologic classification. The growth of Fusarium N1 and Fusarium N2 species were completely inhibited using100 ppm of rocket and star anise extracts. The highly active extract of rocket and star anise was followed by fennel and rosemary in descending order. Fusarium N1 was more sensitive for the plant extracts used. In conclusion, the molecular identification was the most accurate method to identified fungal isolates more than morphological methods. sequence variation within the ITS region allowed reliable and faster discrimination of the isolates at both the genus and species level. On the other hand, the plant extracts used in this study showed high antifungal activity against the Fusarium species. Key words: Fusarium Species, Maize, Plant Extract, Antifungal Activity, 18S rDNA