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Analysis of phytopathogenic fungi isolated from some important crop plants using morpho-molecular tools—Foldscope and ITS region sequencing

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Abstract

Fungal diseases are one of the major factors responsible for severe agricultural losses with a deep impact to the economy. An early detection of these diseases, preferably at the agriculture site itself could be useful so that appropriate counter measures can be taken against the pathogens. In our paper, we have focused on analyzing and characterizing phytopathogens. Foldscope—an origami-based paper microscope—was used for visualization of diseased leaves, fruits, vegetable parts, pathogenic fungal pure cultures, etc. We characterized fungal isolates acquired from various vegetable, fruit, and ornamental plants. Our main objective was to evaluate whether the paper microscope could be used as a preliminary tool for onsite observation of fungal diseases in crops, so that immediate measures can be taken by farmers against fungal infestation prevailing in their agricultural fields. This will thus ensure reduction in crop and revenue losses for the farmers. Ours is the first report wherein phytopathogenic fungi from broccoli, gerbera, guava, okra, and orange as host plants have been successfully identified with the Foldscope as a tool and studied to the extent where cell wall–degrading enzymes, pathogenicity, and ITS region sequencing have been established for these fungi.

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Data availability

Fungal ITS region sequences generated through this study are deposited in the GenBank database and accession numbers are enlisted in the manuscript.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to the Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College (Autonomous), Pune, for lab facilities. Authors also acknowledge Dr. R. Ramesh, Principal Scientist, ICAR - Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, for providing banana, coconut, and rice samples. We also acknowledge the gerbera samples provided by Dr. Sachin Chavan, Principal Scientist, College of Agriculture, Pune, and okra samples provided by Dr. Mahendra S Bhairamkar, extension training officer, College of Agriculture, and Dr. Balasaheb Kokan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli.

Funding

Authors acknowledge the funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, India, under the DBT- Foldscope project (BT/IN/INDO- US/Foldscope/39/2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Fergusson College (Autonomous), F.C. Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411004, India

    Gayatri Gurjar & Madhavi Kanade

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  1. Gayatri Gurjar
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Gayatri Gurjar conceived the idea and acquired funding for the project. Gayatri Gurjar and Madhavi Kanade collected and identified fungal specimens. Gayatri Gurjar and Madhavi Kanade acquired morphological data through the Foldscope and microscope. Madhavi Kanade performed analysis of CWDEs. Gayatri Gurjar and Madhavi Kanade performed DNA extraction and ITS-PCR. Gayatri Gurjar analyzed the ITS sequencing data and performed phylogenetic analysis. Gayatri Gurjar and Madhavi Kanade together wrote the manuscript and contributed to and agreed on the final version.

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Correspondence to Gayatri Gurjar.

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Gurjar, G., Kanade, M. Analysis of phytopathogenic fungi isolated from some important crop plants using morpho-molecular tools—Foldscope and ITS region sequencing. Mycol Progress 19, 1475–1493 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-020-01640-1

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