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Molecular characterization, mycelial compatibility grouping, and aggressiveness of a newly emerging phytopathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, causing white mold disease in new host crops in Bangladesh

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Abstract

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a newly emerging phytopathogen in Bangladesh causing white mold disease in many plants, including important horticultural and field crops. In this study, we isolated S. sclerotiorum strains from infected parts of various host crops and characterized them using morphophysiological and genetic approaches. White mold of mustard; pod rot or fruit rot of bush bean and garden pea; head rot of cauliflower; flower rot or blossom rot of rose and Salvia; fruit rot of squash; inflorescence rot and pod rot of country bean; and leaf drop or rot of coriander and lettuce were observed in several regions of Bangladesh. From the infected crops, a total of 36 fungal strains were isolated and identified as S. sclerotiorum using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. The S. sclerotiorum isolates showed white to off-white mycelial growth with loose to dense velvety aerial mycelia. Round to irregular shaped sclerotia formation was observed, with 4-38 sclerotia present per Petri plate. Apothecia formation from sclerotia was also noted under both natural and artificial conditions. In the present study, as many as 13 crops: Cosmos bipinnatus, Amaranthus cruentus, Leucas aspera, Glycine max, Dahlia hortensis, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Rosa chinensis, Salvia officinalis, Cucurbita pepo, Lagenaria siceraria, Brassica oleracea var. italica, Coriandrum sativum, and Lactuca sativa were identified as new host crops of S. sclerotiorum in Bangladesh based on morphological characteristics and ITS sequences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Pathology Discipline, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh

    M. M. E. Rahman

  2. Institute for Research Promotion, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan

    K. Suzuki

  3. Department of Plant Pathology and Seed Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh

    M. M. Islam

  4. Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    T. K. Dey

  5. Institute of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan

    N. Harada

  6. Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh

    D. M. Hossain

Authors
  1. M. M. E. Rahman
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  2. K. Suzuki
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  3. M. M. Islam
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  4. T. K. Dey
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  5. N. Harada
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  6. D. M. Hossain
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Correspondence to K. Suzuki.

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Rahman, M.M.E., Suzuki, K., Islam, M.M. et al. Molecular characterization, mycelial compatibility grouping, and aggressiveness of a newly emerging phytopathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, causing white mold disease in new host crops in Bangladesh. J Plant Pathol 102, 775–785 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-020-00503-8

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