Isolation and Molecular Identification of Fusarium spp., associated with Pokkah boeng disease of sugarcane

Abstract

Pokkah boeng is a fungal disease and causes significant yield losses in sugarcane growing zones of the country. The disease is caused by the Fusarium species complex, however, scientist have different opinions regarding the species involved. A rapid detection and identification of the pathogen is urgently required to manage the Pokkah boeng disease in sugarcane keeping in view the damage caused by the disease. In our experiment, twenty five isolates were recovered on the basis of morphological observations from the Pokkah boeng infected sugarcane samples. Pathogenicity assay confirms two Fusarium isolate (F2 and F7) by giving typical Pokkah boeng symptoms. These two isolates were identified by phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer 1, partial sequence; 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence and large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. Thus, rDNA-ITS region study revealed that these two Fusarium strains are Fusarium fujikuroi strain F2 and Fusarium proliferatum strain F7 causing Pokkah boeng disease of sugarcane.