This workshop will be taught by seven international Fusarium experts. Participants will be introduced to standard morphological, genetic and molecular biological techniques used to identify and characterize strains of Fusarium. Participants will learn to use morphological characters to identify the most common Fusarium species, how to make tests for vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) and cross-fertility, and how to extract, PCR amplify DNA, and to analyze DNA sequences. More than half of the time will be spent in the laboratory working with standard strains. Students may bring some of their own strains.

Topics include:

Laboratory Strain Identification

VCG Analysis

Mating Types and Crosses

Species Concepts

Molecular Identification

Mycotoxigenic species

Attendance will also broaden my Fusarium expertise as well as increase my international contacts with Fusarium experts.

The three major areas of learning will involve:

1.) Knowledge and technical expertise to correctly identify numerous Fusarium species using morphological techniques as well as molecular sequencing.

2). Learn traditional techniques including the preparation of single spore cultures, vegetative compatibility grouping, and extensive familiarisation with the morphological characteristic of a range of Fusaria grown on specialised media.

3). Learn molecular identification of Fusarium species including how to extract DNA from the isolate, amplification of DNA using PCR, DNA sequence, and running the DNA sequence through a sequence database.