DefinePK

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify fungal species, specifically Chaetomium bostrychodes and Neoscytalidium novaehollandiae, isolated from seeds of five wheat cultivars: Mahmoudia (MHD), Babil (BBL), Bohooth (BTH), Adena (ADN), and Wefia (WAF). Phenotypic identification of both fungi was conducted based on morphological and microscopic characteristics. Molecular diagnosis, employing internal transcribed spacer primers (ITS1 and ITS4), was utilized to ascertain the species\' identity. The morphometric and microscopic results for both fungi demonstrated a consistent agreement with previously published findings related to fungal features. Molecular sequences further confirmed the identity of these species, with a sequence similarity percentage of 90% for C. bostrychodes (KP216865.1 deposited at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) and 98% for N. novaehollandiae (MT397136.1). Notably, this study marks the first documentation of C. bostrychodes and N. novaehollandiae as wheat seed-borne fungi in Iraq. The molecular confirmation adds a robust layer to the identification process, providing a comprehensive understanding of the fungal species present in the examined wheat cultivars. This novel report contributes valuable insights into the fungal diversity associated with wheat seeds in the region.