Fusarium verticillioides MAT1-2 strain near isogenic to the sequenced FGSC7600

The study goal was to create a Fusarium verticillioides MAT1-2 strain that was near isogenic to the sequenced FGSC 7600 (NRRL 20955). We accomplished this by using the sexual cycle of the fungus to cross FGSC 7600, carrying the MAT1-1 locus, with FGSC7603 (NRRL 20956), carrying the MAT1-2 locus. Progeny with the MAT1-2 locus were sequentially backcrossed with FGSC 7600 six times. We sequenced each generation with a MiSeq platform and then mapped recombination events. The final MAT1-2 strain is approximately 93% identical to FGSC7600 and is available from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center (FGSC 27326) and from the USDA ARS Culture Collection as NRRL 64809.