Author(s):

V Govardhan Rao, DN Dhutraj, KT Apet, CV Ambadkar, B Prasanna Kumar, AT Daunde, SR Bhalerao, PL Sontakke and AG Patil

Abstract: Identification and characterization of fungal pathogens associated with wilting of eggplants (Solanum spp.) is a necessary precondition for efficient disease management and for the development of durable host resistance in eggplant cultivars. A study was carried out to identify and differentiate Fusarium isolates from eggplant fields in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Twenty four isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonagenae (Schlecht) Mutuo and Ishigami., incitant of wilt of eggplants were studied for its Pathogenic, cultural and morphological variability and characterization. The radial growth of isolates viz FOM A3, FOM B5, FOM H7, FOM J10, FOM L14, FOM N16, FOM O20 and FOM P22 were more than 70 mm after 6 days of inoculation and considered as fast growing category. Among all the isolates of FOM P22 isolate showed significant variation in radial growth (85 mm) on PDA medium at 6 DAI. In present study, cultural and morphological variability of the entire 8 highly pathogenic test isolates viz., FOM A3, FOM B5, FOM H7, FOM J10, FOM L14, FOM N16, FOM O20 and FOM P22 of F. O. melongenae were attempted. The isolates have shown mycelium color ranging from Milk White (FOM A3), Purple (FOM B5), Pink (FOM H7), Light Purple (FOM J10), Classy Pink (FOM L14), Buff (FOM N16), Brown (FOM O20) and Baby Pink (FOM P22). The size of macro conidia ranged from 22.40 - 31.83 x 3.89-5.52μm and the size of micro conidia ranged from 5.92 - 9.34 × 2.61- 4.15μm. The number of septa in macro conidia and in micro conidia is 2-5 and 0-1, respectively and conidia are hyaline. The macro conidia is sickle shaped with blunt end and micro conidia is round to oval shaped. Intercalary and terminal chlamydospores were observed in all the FOM. Isolates and significant variation was noticed in cultural characters of eight different isolates with respective mycelium colour, substrate colour, sporulation etc.

Pages: 1436-1443  |  893 Views  487 Downloads

Download (942KB)