Occurrence of Macrophomina phaseolina on Chickpea in Italy: Pathogen Identification and Characterization

Abstract

Climate change has led to the spread of plant pathogens in novel environments, causing dramatic crop losses and economic damage. Botryosphaeriaceae represents a massive fungal family, containing a huge number of plant pathogens, which are able to infect several hosts. Among them, Macrophomina phaseolina is a necrotrophic fungus, responsible for several plant diseases, including the soft stem rot of common bean, crown rot on strawberry and charcoal rot of several legumes. Here, Macrophomina, causing crown charcoal rot in chickpeas, was isolated from symptomatic plants in Cicerale (SA), Campania, South Italy. Morphological and molecular characterization was carried out and pathogenicity tests were performed. Phylogenetic analyses were performed comparing Macrophomina strains coming from different geographic areas and hosts. The experiments confirmed the pathogenicity of the isolate CREA OF 189.2 on chickpea, while host range highlighted the polyphagous nature of this strain; thus, symptoms were reported on lentils, common bean and cantaloupe. The multidisciplinary approach allows us to increase the knowledge about this emerging pathogen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on Macrophomina phaseolina from chickpeas in Italy.

Leguminous Seedborne Pathogens: Seed Health and Sustainable Crop Management

“…is an ascomycete belonging to the family Botryosphaeriaceae [ 35 , 36 ], which includes pathogenic, necrotrophic, and endophytic fungi [ 37 ]. This fungus is present all over the globe, and it is one of the major pathogens for legumes ( Table 1 ); it has been noted for having a wide host range, including more than 700 plant species [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Taxonomically, the pathogen is classified as Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina, Dothideomycetes, Incertae sedis, order Botryosphaeriales, family Botryosphaeriaceae , and genus Macrophomina [ 41 ].…”

“…Symptoms linked to M. phaseolina infection can be various, since the pathogen can cause crown charcoal rot, root rot, and stem rot ( Figure 4 ) [ 46 ]. Infections with M. phaseolina have been reported for several legumes, including common bean, cowpea, chickpea, pea, soybean, lentil, and alfalfa [ 17 , 40 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. Interestingly, in 2021, a report of charcoal rot in lentil caused by M. pseudophaseolina Crous, Sarr & Ndiaye was described for the first time worldwide [ 50 ].…”

“…Interestingly, in 2021, a report of charcoal rot in lentil caused by M. pseudophaseolina Crous, Sarr & Ndiaye was described for the first time worldwide [ 50 ]. Several studies have been carried out to find correlations among M. phaseolina isolates based on the pathogenicity, host, or geographical origin, but, in most cases, the results have been found to be fruitless [ 40 , 51 ]. Additionally, the results of these studies evidenced the high genetic variability typical of this species.…”

“… Symptoms of M. phaseolina charcoal rot in chickpea plants published in Dell’Olmo et al, 2022 [ 40 ]. …”

The Antifungal Properties of Tamarix aphylla Extract against Some Plant Pathogenic Fungi

“…Wide hosts suggest nonhost-specific fungus, yet its infection is better known as charcoal rot. The name relates to the coloration resulting in the invasion and accumulation of black microsclerotia in host tissue [ 19 ]. The abundance of microsclerotia is a virulence factor responsible for secondary infection in immunocompromised patients [ 18 ].…”