Diversity of Fusarium Species Infecting Maize Grown in Nakuru County, Kenya

Maize ( Zea mays L.) is one of the famous food crops in Kenya. It is always contaminated by fungi, Fusarium spp. producing mycotoxins, The most common mycotoxin is Fumonisin FB ₁ . Whose intake above 2.0 mg/kg body weight/day has a role in development of Oesophangeal cancer. No data is readily available on the genetic diversity of Fusarium species in various maize genotypes in Kenya. This study was to determine diversity of Fusarium fungi infecting maize in Nakuru County-Kenya. A Purposive sampling was used in collecting maize grains from 277 farmers. Fusarium species were isolated and confirmed using molecular techniques. DNA sequencing of Translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1) gene was done. The data was edited using vector NTI software and blasted in NCBI data base. Fusarium was identified using spore morphology on potato dextrose Agar (PDA). DNA sequence analysis revealed presence of F. temperatum , F. boothii, and F. verticillioides . The finding was to enlighten; the public, farmers, and agricultural officers on the infections of maize by specific Fusarium sp., hence the need to grow less infected maize genotypes H614, H6218 and H6210.