Fusarium species from plant debris associated with soils from maize production areas in the Transkei region of South Africa

Fusarium species were isolated from plant debris in soil samples collected from cultivated maize fields and from undisturbed grasslands in two areas of the Transkei region. A total of 1205 Fusarium isolates were recovered from 27 soil samples. Fifteen Fusarium species were recovered from plant debris from Bizana soils and 13 Fusarium species from plant debris from Centane soils. The two dominant Fusarium species in both areas were F. oxysporum and F. equiseti. Very few isolates of F. moniliforme and F. subglutinans were recovered, but both of these species had significantly higher relative densities in cultivated soils than in undisturbed soils.