Diversity of fungal pathogens associated with loquat and development of novel virulence scales

Abstract

Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] is an important fruit crop in Pakistan; however, a constant decline in its production is noted due biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly disease infestation. Fungal pathogens are the major disease-causing agents; therefore, their identification is necessary for devising management options. This study explored Taxila, Wah-Cantt, Tret, Chatar, Murree, Kalar-Kahar, Choa-Saidan-Shah and Khan-Pur districts in the Punjab and Khyber Paktoon Khawa (KPK) provinces of Pakistan to explore the diversity of fungal pathogens associated with loquat. The samples were collected from these districts and their microscopic characterizations were accomplished for reliable identification. Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Aspergilus flavis, Botrytis cinerea, Chaetomium globosum, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae and Phomopsis sp. were the fungal pathogens infesting loquat in the study area. The isolates of A. alternata and C. lunata were isolated from leaf spots and fruit rot, while the isolates of L. theobromae were associated with twig dieback. The remaining pathogens were allied with fruit rot. The nucleotide evidence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2) were computed from all the pathogens and submitted in the database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). For multigene analysis, beta-tubulin (BT) gene and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) regions were explored for A. alternata and C. lunata isolates, respectively. The virulence scales of leaf spots, fruit rot, and twig dieback diseases of loquat were developed for the first time through this study. It is the first comprehensive study with morpho-molecular identification, and newly developed virulence scales of the fungal pathogens associated with loquat, which improves the understanding of these destructive diseases.

Stilbocrea banihashemiana sp. nov. a New Fungal Pathogen Causing Stem Cankers and Twig Dieback of Fruit Trees

“…Stem cankers and twig dieback are one of the most serious diseases of fig and loquat worldwide. The casual agents of these diseases belong to different families of ascomycetous fungi, including Diaporthaceae [ 5 ], Nectriaceae , Botryosphaeriaceae [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], and Ceratocystidaceae [ 10 ]. These pathogens cause almost indistinguishable symptoms.…”

Diversity, antibacterial activity and chemical analyses of gut-associated fungi isolated from the Crocothemis servilia

“…Trichoderma, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Talaromyces were also found in the guts of aquatic insect larvae, which have cellulolytic potential (Belmont-Montefusco et al, 2020). Besides, C. lunata and A. alternata isolated from the gut have been reported as plant pathogens (Fahim Abbas et al, 2021). However, some culturable fungi are the first reported fungi of dragonfly gut, such as Bipolaris sp., Arthrinium sp., M. irregularis, T. marneffei, T. pinophilus, and T. purpureogenus.…”

Retraction: Diversity of fungal pathogens associated with loquat and development of novel virulence scales

“…The PLOS ONE Editors retract this article [ 1 ] because it was identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about authorship, competing interests, and peer review. We regret that the issues were not addressed prior to the article’s publication.…”