Diversity and Characteristics of Fusarium solani Species Complex (FSSC) Isolates Causing Collar Rot and Fruit Rot of Passion Fruit in Taiwan

Journal
Plant Disease
Journal Volume
109
Journal Issue
1
Pages
170-182
Date Issued
2025-01
Author(s)
Pei-Hsin Lo
Jin-Hsing Huang 
Chia-Chih Chang
Ahmed Namisy
Chi-Yu Chen
Wen-Hsin Chung
DOI
URI
Abstract
Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) is a causal agent of collar rot and fruit rot in passion fruit worldwide. This study investigated the diversity and characteristics of FSSC isolates causing collar rot and fruit rot in Taiwanese passion fruit. Thirty-five FSSC isolates were harvested from collar rot and fruit rot samples of passion fruit from various cultivars and different geographical locations in Taiwan. The majority of these FSSC isolates caused collar rot and fruit rot disease of varying virulence in the stems and fruits of the purple and yellow cultivars of passion fruit. FSSC isolates were categorized into four groups: F. solani-melongenae (FSSC 21; n = 29), F. solani (FSSC 5; n = 1), F. liriodendri (FSSC 24; n = 1), and an unknown group (n = 4) based on the phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed sequence (ITS), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF-1 alpha), and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2) sequences. In Taiwan, F. solani-melongenae was the dominant species causing collar rot and fruit rot in passion fruit. F. solani-melongenae was a homothallic fungus that produced perithecia in diseased tissues. However, F. solani and F. liriodendri did not produce perithecia. The unknown FSSC group showed morphological characteristics similar to F. solani-melongenae and produced perithecia. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS and TEF-1 alpha sequences demonstrated that the Taiwanese FSSC isolates were distinct from the Brazilian and Chinese FSSC isolates. In summary, FSSC isolates causing collar rot and fruit rot of Taiwanese passion fruit showed high diversity, potentially associated with the geographical locations.
Subjects
base rot
collar rot
fruit rot
fusarium solani
Fusarium solani-melongenae
Publisher
American Phytopathological Society
Type
journal article