Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of Epicoccum sorghinum and its Effect on Stalk Sugar Yield

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Sugar Tech Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ring spot disease of sugarcane is associated with several fungal pathogens worldwide. In the Philippines, the disease is considered a minor one with limited knowledge of its pathosystem. Thus, this present study was conducted (1) to identify the fungal pathogen associated with ring spot of sugarcane through combined morphological and molecular characterization, (2) to determine the pathogenicity of the isolated fungus in detached leaf and planta trials, and (3) to evaluate its effects on the stalk sugar yield. Morphological characters and gene sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS-rDNA), beta-tubulin (TUB2) and actin (ACT) regions of fungal isolates VNOC62a and VNR26 showed high similarity with Epicoccum sorghinum. Both isolates were pathogenic in detached leaf, and planta trials and the same fungi were reisolated from the symptomatic leaves, thereby fulfilling Koch’s postulate. Further, E. sorghinum VNOC62a significantly reduced the stalk sugar level (Brix) at seven-day post-inoculation (dpi) while E. sorghinum VNR26 reduced sugar level at 14 dpi. This study successfully identified Epicoccum sorghinum as the cause of ring spot of sugarcane and revealed to significantly reduce stalk sugar yield, in vitro.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aveskamp, M.M., J. de Gruyter, J.H.C. Woudenberg, G.J.M. Verkley, and P.W. Crous. 2010. Highlights of the Didymellaceae: A polyphasic approach to characterise Phoma and related pleosporalean genera. Studies in Mycology 65: 1–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bao, X.T., D.S.P. Dharmasena, D.X. Li, X. Wang, S.L. Jiang, Y.F. Ren, D.L. Wang, B.A. Song, and Z. Chen. 2019. First report of Epicoccum sorghinum causing leaf spot on tea in China. Plant Disease 103 (12): 3282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boerema, G.H., J. de Gruyter, M.E. Noordeloos, and M.E.C. Hamers. 2004. Phoma identification manual. Differentiation of specific and infra-specific taxa in culture. Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing

  • Cai, L., K.D. Hyde, P.W.J. Taylor, B.S. Weir, J. Waller, M.M. Abang, J.Z. Zhang, Y.L. Yang, S. Phoulivong, Z.Y. Liu, H. Prihastuti, R.G. Shivas, E.H.C. Mckenzie, and P.R. Johnston. 2009. A polyphasic approach for studying Colletotrichum. Fungal Diversity 39: 183–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carbone, I., and L.M. Kohn. 1999. A method for designing primer sets for speciation studies in filamentous ascomycetes. Mycologia 91 (3): 533–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croft, B. J. 2000. Ring spot. In A Guide to Sugarcane Diseases, ed. Philippe Rott, Roger A. Bailey, Jack C. Comstock, Barry J. Croft, and Salem Saumtally, 167–69. Montpellier, France: CIRAD/ISSCT, La Librairie du Cirad.

  • De Castro, A. M., R.L. De Torres, J.S. Mendoza, M.J.C. Mendoza, M.A.O. Balendres, M.S. Pinili, R.L. Tiongco, and F.M. Dela Cueva. 2018. Geographic distribution of sugarcane diseases in the Philippines. Abstract in 50th PMCP anniversary and annual scientific conference. The Mansion, Iloilo City, Philippines, 8–11

  • Dela Cueva, F.M., J.S. Mendoza, and M.A.O. Balendres. 2018. A new Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose of chilli in the Philippines and its pathogenicity to chilli cultivar Django. Crop Protection 112: 264–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dela Cueva, F.M., R.L. De Torres, A.M. De Castro, J.S. Mendoza, and M.A.O. Balendres. 2019a. Susceptibility of sugarcane to red rot caused by two Fusarium species and its impact on stalk sugar level. Journal of Plant Pathology 101: 639–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dela Cueva, F.M., R.L. De Torres, J.S. Mendoza, N.R. Laurel, A.M. De Castro, M.J.C. Mendoza, R.L. Tiongco, M.S. Pinili, and M.A.O. Balendres. 2019b. Distribution of sugarcane diseases in the Philippines. 66th PHILSUTECH Annual National Convention. Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines, pp. 12–16

  • De. Oliveira, R., K. Davenport, B. Hovde, D. Silva, P. Chain, B. Correa, and D. Rodrigues. 2017. Draft genome sequence of sorghum grain mold fungus Epicoccum sorghinum, a producer of tenuazonic acid. Genome Announcements 5 (4): e01495-e1516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, J.J., and J.L. Doyle. 1987. A rapid DNA isolation procedure for small quantities of fresh leaf tissue. Phytochemical Bulletin 19: 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glass, N.L., and G.C. Donaldson. 1995. Development of primer sets designed for use with the PCR to amplify conserved genes from filamentous ascomycetes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 61: 1323–1330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Y.K., W.F. Li, R.Y. Zhang, and X.Y. Wang. 2018. Diagnosis and control of sugarcane important diseases. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1319-6_1.

  • Kearse, M., R. Moir, A. Wilson, S. Stones-Hava, M. Cheung, S. Sturrock, S. Buxton, A. Cooper, S. Markowitz, C. Duran, T. Thierer, B. Ashton, P. Mentjies, and A. Drummond. 2012. Geneious Basic: An integrated and extendable desktop software platform for the organization and analysis of sequence data. Bioinformatics 28 (12): 1647–1649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S., G. Stecher, and K. Tamura. 2016. MEGA7: Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 7.0 for bigger datasets. Molecular Biology and Evolution 33 (7): 1870–1874.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Z., J. Wei, M. Zhang, X. Shiqiang, Q. Guo, X. Wang, B. Chen, Y. Que, Z. Deng, R. Chen, and C. Powell. 2015. Identification and characterization of a new fungal pathogen causing twisted leaf disease of sugarcane in China. Plant Disease 99: 325–332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, P.Q., M.Y. Wei, L. Zhu, R.B. Wang, B.J. Li, Q.Y. Weng, and Q.H. Chen. 2018. First report of leaf spot on taro caused by Epicoccum sorghinum in China. Plant Disease 102: 682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nei, M., and S. Kumar. 2000. Molecular evolution and phylogenetics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 2020. Major non-food and industrial crops quarterly bulletin. Philippines: Quezon City.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raza, M., Z. Zhang, K.D. Hyde, Y.Z. Diao, and L. Cai. 2019. Culturable plant pathogenic fungi associated with sugarcane in southern China. Fungal Diversity 99: 1–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rott, P., R.A. Bailey, J.C. Comstock, B.J. Croft, and A.S. Saumtally. 2000. A guide to sugarcane diseases. Montpellier: CIRAD and ISSCT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rott, P., J.C. Comstock, R.A. Gilbert, and H.S. Sandhu. 2014. Sugarcane Eyespot Disease. SSAGR203. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sc003

  • Rott, P., D.C. Odero, J.M. Beuzelin, R.N. Raid, M. Van Weelden, S. Swanson, and M. Mossler. 2018. Florida crops/pets profile: Sugarcane. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-pi207-2018.

  • Stokholm, M.S., E.G. Wulff, E.P. Zida, I.G. Thio, J.B. Néya, R.W. Soalla, S.E. Glazowska, M. Andresen, H.B. Topbjerg, H.B. Boelt, and O.S. Lund. 2016. DNA barcoding and isolation of vertically transmitted ascomycetes in sorghum from Burkina Faso: Epicoccum sorghinum is dominant in seedlings and appears as a common root pathogen. Microbiological Research 191: 38–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2016.05.004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA). 2020. The Philippines sugarcane industry: challenges and opportunities. Philippines: Quezon City.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taguiam, J.D., E.S. Evallo, J. Bengoa, R.G. Maghirang, and M.A.O. Balendres. 2020. Pathogenicity of Epicoccum sorghinum towards dragon fruits (Hylocereus species) and in vitro evaluation of chemicals with antifungal activity. Journal of Phytopathology 168 (6): 303–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viswanathan, R., and G.P. Rao. 2011. Disease scenario and management of major sugarcane diseases in India. Sugar Tech 13: 336–353.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whittle, P.J.L. 2000. Brown stripe. In A Guide to Sugarcane Diseases, ed. Philippe Rott, Roger A. Bailey, Jack C. Comstock, Barry J. Croft, and A. Salem Saumtally, 81–84. Montpellier, France: CIRAD/ISSCT, La Librairie du Cirad.

  • Zhou, H., P.P. Liu, S. Qiu, S.J. Wei, K. Xia, and Q. Gao. 2018. Identity of Epicoccum sorghinum causing leaf spot disease of Bletilla striata in China. Plant Disease 102 (5): 1039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Marita Pinili, Ms. Mary Joy Mendoza, Ms. Rizalina Tiongco, Ms. Alyssa De Castro, Ms. Vangelene Linga, Ms. Elaine Elmido, Mr. Eddie Bueta, Mr. Emmanuel Pacifico, and Mr. Edwin Aquino, for their valuable technical support.

Funding

This study was funded by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Department of Agriculture (Philippines), under the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA) (Project Code: UPLB N8 182 21). The Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, has provided in-kind support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Pathology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031, Laguna, Philippines

    Niño R. Laurel, Rachele L. De Torres, Jay-Vee S. Mendoza, Mark Angelo O. Balendres & Fe M. Dela Cueva

Authors
  1. Niño R. Laurel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rachele L. De Torres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jay-Vee S. Mendoza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mark Angelo O. Balendres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fe M. Dela Cueva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Niño R. Laurel.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Laurel, N.R., De Torres, R.L., Mendoza, JV.S. et al. Identification of Epicoccum sorghinum and its Effect on Stalk Sugar Yield. Sugar Tech 23, 1383–1392 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-01017-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-01017-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation