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Stalk rot species diversity and molecular phylogeny associated with diseased maize in India

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Abstract

Stalk rot disease is a major constraint in maize production and till date reported to be caused by two to three species of phytopathogenic fungi but, in our present study, we disclose the first report of stalk rot is caused by complex species of phytopathogens, which belongs to five different genera. Therefore, to substantiate these findings, a total of 105 diseased samples of maize were collected from 21 different locations in six different geographical locations of India from which 48 isolates were used for the research study. Morphological features such as pigmentation, colony color, type of mycelium and pattern of mycelium was examined using macro and microscopic methods. A total of 11 different spp. of pathogens belonging to the five different genera: Fusarium verticillioides (56.25%), F. equiseti (14.5%), F. andiyazi (6.25%), F. solani (2.08%), F. proliferatum (2.08%), F. incarnatum (2.08%), Lasidioplodia theobrame (6.25%), Exserohilum rostrtum (4.16%), Nigrospora spp. (4.16%). and Schizophyllum commune (2.08%) were identified by different housekeeping genes (ITS, TEF-1α, RPB2 and Actin). Fusarium verticillioides, F. equiseti and F. andiyazi were major pathogens involved in stalk rot. This is the first report on F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. incarnatum, Lasidioplodia theobrame, Exserohilum rostrtum, Nigrospora spp. and Schizophyllum commune causing stalk rot of maize and their distribution in the different states of India. Studies on population dynamics of PFSR will enhance the understanding of pathogen behavior, virulence, or its association with different pathogens across India, which will facilitate the development of resistant maize genotypes against the PFSR.

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Acknowledgements

All the authors are thankful to the PathoGenOmics Lab, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore for providing infrastructure facility.

Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PathoGenOmics Lab, Department of Plant Pathology, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India

    J. Harish, Gopal Venkateshbabu, M. K. Prasannakumar, Sridhara G. Kunjeti & M. E. Puneeth

  2. Rice Pathology Laboratory, All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Programme, Gangavathi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, 584104, India

    Pramesh Devanna

  3. Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India

    H. B. Mahesh

  4. Corteva Agriscience India Private Limited, Kallinaikanahalli, Thondebhavi Post Chikkaballapura District, Karnataka, 561213, India

    D. C. Balasundara

  5. Monsanto India Ltd. (A Subsidiary of Bayer AG), Kallinayakanahalli, Thondebhavi Post, Chikkaballapura, Karnataka, 561213, India

    S. Dharanendra Swamy

  6. ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore, 560024, India

    C. Manjunatha

  7. AICRP on Pigeonpea, ZARS, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560065, India

    H. C. Lohithaswa

  8. Department of Plant Pathology, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, 284003, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Prashant P. Jambhulkar

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  1. J. Harish
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Contributions

Author Contributions: JH: Performed, Designing and executed all of the experiments, MKP: Conceptualization, designing, methodology, visualization, investigation, and supervision, GV: Methodology, Primer designing and critical suggestion, JH and GV: Formal analysis, Methodology, bioinformatics analysis, Visualization, Data Curation, Writing—original draft preparation, JH, GV, MKP, PD: Writing—review and editing, MHB. CM and HCL: Critical suggestion; BDC, SGK, SD, PME and PPJ Provided field samples. All the authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to M. K. Prasannakumar.

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Harish, J., Venkateshbabu, G., Prasannakumar, M.K. et al. Stalk rot species diversity and molecular phylogeny associated with diseased maize in India. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 40, 185 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-024-03991-3

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