A PCR-based assay analysing the genomic DNA of 60 Fusarium strains, isolated from food grains, using species-specific and TRI5 gene-specific primers, was carried out. Species-specific PCRs were used to confirm the identity of the Fusarium species. These results showed the necessity of combining morphological and molecular identification techniques. The analysis of fungal genomic DNA for the presence or absence of the TRI5 gene, encoding the first step in a trichotecene synthesis pathway, showed contamination by trichotecenes producers in 4 cereal samples out of the 8 tested, and multiplex species-specific PCR detected F. avenaceum and F. culmorum. TRI5 gene specific PCR-based analysis of the fungal genome demonstrated a close correlation of this gene with the production of secondary metabolites, particularly trichotecenes, detected by TLC.
Keywords: Fusarium, trichotecenes, grains, Lithuania.