Premium
Fusarium rot of melon is caused by several Fusarium species
Author(s) -
Medeiros Araújo Maria B.,
Moreira Gláucia M.,
Nascimento Luan Vítor,
Nogueira Geovane de Almeida,
Nascimento Selma Rogéria de C.,
Pfenning Ludwig H.,
Ambrósio Márcia Michelle de Q.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/ppa.13328
Subject(s) - melon , biology , fusarium , postharvest , cultivar , phylogenetic tree , inoculation , horticulture , botany , gene , biochemistry
Fusarium rot of melon, caused by species of the genus Fusarium , has become an important postharvest disease for many Brazilian producers. Due to the delayed onset of symptoms, this disease is often only detected when fruits arrive at the importing country, thus generating economic loss for the exportation of the fruit. This study was developed with the aim of investigating which Fusarium species cause fruit rot in melon and to evaluate any differences in aggressiveness and development of symptoms. Species were identified through phylogenetic analysis of two loci and morphological markers. The 28 isolates obtained from diseased melon fruits of different commercial cultivars were identified as Fusarium falciforme (FSSC), F . sulawesiense , F. pernambucanum (FIESC), and F. kalimantanense (FOSC). Three isolates belong to a new phylogenetic lineage within the F. fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). All isolates were tested for pathogenicity, and first symptoms of rot in Canary melon were observed 2 days after inoculation. Isolates of F. falciforme and F. sulawesiense were shown to be more aggressive. Our results extend information on Fusarium species that cause fruit rot in melon and support the development of management strategies, as there is currently no efficient control for this disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of species of the FSSC, FOSC, and FFSC from muskmelon fruits in Brazil.