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Real-time PCR mediated monitoring of Fusarium foetens in symptomatic and non-symptomatic hosts

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Abstract

Fusarium foetens is a recently described aggressive vascular pathogen of Begonia x hiemalis. Since 2004, it has caused severe losses for Begonia growers in Northern Europe and North America. F. foetens is likely to be of exotic origin. Little is known about the accumulation of the fungus in Begonia plants before and during symptom expression and about its host range. We have optimised a molecular detection method for F. foetens by only using the plant part containing the largest amount of the pathogen and by optimising the tissue maceration and DNA extraction techniques. This allowed a reliable detection limit of 2310 spore equivalents per plant and a theoretical detection limit of as low as 84 to 167 spore equivalents per plant. Using this method, we demonstrated exponential accumulation of F. foetens DNA in Begonia roots, resulting in symptoms at a threshold of approximately 107 spore equivalents and levelling off at 109 spore equivalents per plant. The observed rate of accumulation and the amount of pathogen DNA in non-symptomatic plants can be combined to determine whether the cuttings were infected after delivery at the Begonia nursery and to calculate the estimated timing of symptom development. To test the host range, we applied the optimised molecular detection technique. During these tests, only Begonia x hiemalis plants became symptomatic, but many other plant species supported growth of the pathogen. This information can be used to aid pathogen control and has implications for pest risk assessment.

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Abbreviations

dpi:

Days post inoculation

FSM:

Fusarium selective medium

GE Kit:

GenElute plant genomic DNA kit

ISP Kit:

Invisorb spin plant mini kit

PDA/B:

Potato dextrose agar/broth

QP (+ MC) Kit:

Quick pick SML pant DNA kit (+ MagaCharc beads)

wpi:

Weeks post inoculation

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service “Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment”, project RT-06/2–PRAVEG. We would like to thank the Flemish Begonia growing companies for their cooperation, useful information and plant samples. We thank the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) (NRL agreement10-ILVOCRA-PLANTEN) for partial financial support of this project. We thank Miriam Levenson for English language editing.

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  1. Hanneke Huvenne

    Present address: Department of Crop Protection–Laboratory of Agrozoology, Ghent University–Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Sciences Unit–Crop Protection Research Area, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Burgemeester van Gansberghelaan 96 bus 2, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium

    Hanneke Huvenne, Jane Debode, Martine Maes & Kurt Heungens

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  1. Hanneke Huvenne
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  2. Jane Debode
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  3. Martine Maes
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  4. Kurt Heungens
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Correspondence to Kurt Heungens.

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Huvenne, H., Debode, J., Maes, M. et al. Real-time PCR mediated monitoring of Fusarium foetens in symptomatic and non-symptomatic hosts. Eur J Plant Pathol 131, 705–717 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-011-9844-9

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