Abstract
The fungal pathogen Fusarium sacchari causing wilt in sugarcane exhibits enormous variation in cultural characters. Detailed studies were conducted on recovery of the pathogen from wilt infected canes and to characterize the pathogen for its cultural characters. From 346 samples collected from 15 states, 263 Fusarium isolates were recovered and no other fungal genera were recovered. Overall, a higher pathogen recovery was recorded in nodal tissues as compared to internodal tissues of wilt infected stalk tissues. Cultural characterization of 117 isolates divided the Fusarium isolates into three groups based on radial growth as slow, moderate and fast. Based on mycelial colour, the isolates were grouped into seven groups viz., white, orange, pinkish orange, pink, dark pink, pinkish violet and reddish brown. The isolates were further divided into 21 groups based on mycelia colour on the top and agar pigmentation at the reverse side of the culture plate and three groups viz., submissive, raised and fluffy based on topology of the mycelium. Based on conidial frequency, the isolates were grouped as those produce microconidia with low, moderate, higher frequencies, micro and macroconidia at lower frequencies and micro and macroconidia production at higher frequencies. The results of this study revealed extensive variation in F. sacchari isolates recovered for their cultural characters from wilt infected stalks and sick soils.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. N. V. Nair, Director of the Institute for providing the facilities and encouragement. The help rendered by different the sugar factory authorities for conducting disease survey and collection of samples is gratefully acknowledged. The work was supported by Network Project from ICAR, New Delhi.
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Poongothai, M., Viswanathan, R., Malathi, P. et al. Sugarcane Wilt: Pathogen Recovery from Different Tissues and Variation in Cultural Characters. Sugar Tech 16, 50–66 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-013-0249-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-013-0249-2