VCG and AFLP analyses identify the same groups in the causal agents of mango malformation in Brazil

Abstract

The causal agents of mango malformation disease in Brazil are a new Fusarium lineage in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex and Fusarium sterilihyphosum; however information on the genetic and geographical diversity of these pathogens in Brazil is missing. Vegetative compatibility group (VCG) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were used to measure the genetic diversity within these populations. Both techniques identified the same genetic groups. Six VCG and AFLP groups were identified amongst isolates of the new lineage from Brazil. FB-VCG 1/AFLP I was the most widespread group, found in seven of the 13 sites sampled. The second most frequent group was recovered from three sites. The remaining four groups were recovered from single-sites. We think that this lineage represents a genetically and geographically diverse indigenous population that reproduces clonally. In F. sterilihyphosum, group FS-VCG 1/AFLP VII was found at three sites in the southeast region of Brazil. FS-VCG 2/AFLP VIII contained isolates from South Africa but not from Brazil. Fusarium mangiferae isolates from India and South Africa formed one group, while isolates from Egypt and the USA formed a second group. F. sterilihyphosum at present is represented by a small population that might have been introduced only once into a restricted area. The clonal nature of the observed populations suggests that these fungi either occur naturally on indigenous hosts and have jumped to the introduced mango host (introduced in Brazil) or that they originated with mango and went through a severe population bottleneck when they were introduced to Brazil from India or Southeast Asia.

New Insights into Mango Malformation Disease Epidemiology Lead to a New Integrated Management Strategy for Subtropical Environments

“…It was subsequently detected in Brazil (35), where it was shown to cause malformation after artificial inoculation (37). Another MMD causal agent, F. mexicanum sp.…”

Coconut malformation: An emerging disease caused by Fusarium proliferatum in southern Iran

“…Floral malformation is economically important since affected inflorescences usually do not bear fruit (Steenkamp et al, ). In several countries such as Mexico (Rodríguez‐Alvarado, Fernández‐Pavía, Ploetz, & Valenzuela‐Vázquez, ), Brazil (Lima et al, ; Lima, Pfenning, Costa, Campos, & Leslie, ) and South Africa (Britz et al, ; Steenkamp et al, ), malformation disease has left a serious impact on mango orchards and threatened mango production industry.…”

Fusarium mangiferae localization in planta during initiation and development of mango malformation disease

“…Fusarium mangiferae has been identified in China, Egypt, India, Israel, Malaysia, Oman, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka and the USA, and appears to be the most common causal agent of MMD worldwide (Freeman et al ., ). A second MMD causal agent, F. sterilihyphosum , was described in South Africa (Britz et al ., ) and Brazil (Lima et al ., ), while another causal agent, F. mexicanum , was described exclusively from Mexico (Otero‐Colina et al ., ). A fourth recently described species, F. tupiense sp.…”