**5. Conclusions**

Results revealed a considerable degree of phenotypic and genotypic variation in the population of *C*. *kikuchii* infecting soybean crops from the centre-northern region of Santa Fe Province, Argentina.

From the phenotypic- in vitro- viewpoint, isolates were differentiated by color and size of the colonies, as well as by sporulation capacity. As far as genotypic aspect is concerned, differences in the genome of fungi from the different regions were detected, aside from differences among isolates from the same population.

The two statistical techniques applied proved to be adequate since not only genetic variants could be detected among the isolates under study but also similar clusters were obtained in both of them, thereby giving validity to the results. The detection of genetically similar isolates, on the other hand, would make decision-making easier so as to intervene in health issues such as the prevention of diseases produced by these phytopathogenic fungi.
