Cellulose-acetate electrophoresis (CAE) was used to investigate isozyme polymorphisms of 34 Group 1 and Group 2 isolates of
Fusarium graminearum. Of the 26 enzyme systems screened, alkaline phosphatase, NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase,
peptidase D and phosphoglucomutase were found to be suitable for distinguishing members of Group 1 from members of Group 2.
A great deal of similarity in the isozyme patterns among the isolates of a same group, independently of geographic origin, indicated
that isolates within a given group are descendant from a same ancestral population. Significant differences in the isozyme patterns
between the isolates of Group 1 and Group 2 indicated, however, that the two groups were of different ancestry. Group 1 isolates
have since been named F. pseudograminearum. Due to the short run time, minimal need of equipment, small sample volume and
staining requirements, CAE generally provides a rapid and accurate method for isozyme analysis of Fusarium species.