Comparison of multi-locus enzyme and protein gel electrophoresis in the discrimination of five Fusarium species isolated from Egyptian cottons

Electrophoretic studies of multilocus-enzymes (MLEE) and whole-cell protein (SDS-PAGE) were carried out in order to evaluate the parity between different methods for the characterization of five Fusarium species recovered from cotton-growing areas in Egypt by numerical taxonomy methods. The obtained data revealed that SDS-PAGE and esterase isozymes are more efficient in grouping isolates in their respective species while peroxidase and malate dehydrogenase isozyme has much limited resolution in organizing all isolates in their respective species-specific clusters. A low correlations was detected between geographical origin of isolates and genetic diversity. Results indicate that the estimated inter-specific variation may be more pronounced with protein markers than with isoyzmes when the two approaches are applied to the same populations. The level of genetic variability detected within and between Fusarium spp. accessions with protein and esterase isoyzmes analysis suggests that it is a reliable, efficient, and effective marker technology for determining genetic relationships in Fusarium genus. Key words: Cotton, Fusarium, Isozymes, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.