PJB-2024-368
Arsh Bibi
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the emerging staple crops in Pakistan. Punjab province is a major potato-growing area, with over 95% of the country’s potatoes produced there. Wilt is an emerging threat to the potato crop worldwide, including Pakistan. We have identified Fusarium species associated with potato wilt in Pakistan and characterized them using molecular analysis. The potato wilt was sampled in the 2021-2022 potato seasons from five major potato-growing regions: Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Pakpattan, Kamalia, and Faisalabad. Based on morphology, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis, six different species of Fusarium were identified: F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. fujikuroi, F. annulatum and F. thapsinum. Two species, F. oxysporum and F. equiseti, were attributed to fusarium wilt symptoms in all the potato-growing regions after a pathogenicity test in a glass house. F. oxysporum was more prevalent in wilted samples, followed by F. equiseti. This is the first identification of F. equiseti species on wilted potatoes in Pakistan, in addition to the previously known F. oxysporum. Further in vitro biocontrol tests were evaluated using Trichoderma harzianum as a biocontrol agent. It was most effective against F. equiseti with 89% inhibition, followed by F. oxysporum with 65% inhibition. The obtained data on F. equiseti will be helpful in future control strategies, including biocontrol of Fusarium wilt in potatoes caused by F. equiseti, which was previously only attributed to F. oxysporum.
To Cite this article:
Pending
Withdraw
We Welcome Latest Research Articles In Field Of Botany The Pakistan Journal of Botany is an international journal .... Read More
