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Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is considered significant cash crop of Pakistan. The economic growth of Pakistan is directly related to the output of cotton and exports of cotton goods make up about 55% foreign exchange profits of the country. Cotton prefers a hot, dry climate; hence, it is primarily farmed in South Punjab and Sindh. South Punjab regions like Dera Ghazi Khan, Samandri Choti, Kot Chutta, Basti Jam Muhammad, Basti Surani, Basti Ganga. Muhammad Pur and Jampur are primarily known for producing cotton. Plant diseases in the soil damaged and declined the cotton yield and resulted in significant losses. In present study, different growth media were used to isolate the mycobiota diversity of cotton plant. The results indicated that common soil-borne fungal phytopathogens have been recorded including Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated and identified as predominated microbes in the samples. Among these fungi, Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina were the pre-dominant ones as compared to Pythium aphanidermatum and Rhizoctonia solani from the locality of Muhammadpur, Samandri Choti and Basti Surani, respectively from the root and soil samples. In addition, It is proved that almost all reported soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi have stronger relationships and higher occurrence and impact in all cotton growing areas. All the soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi used in the experiment of pathogenicity test proved to be phytopathogenic. In addition, it is concluded that the sampling of cotton plants from different field areas with various infected diseases confirms that the fungal soil-borne disease causes major losses to the yield and quality of cotton.

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