Sains Malaysiana 51(11)(2022): 3591-3605

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5111-07

Characterisation and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Yellowing Disease in Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

(Pencirian dan Kepatogenan Spesies Fusarium Berkaitan dengan Penyakit Kuning pada Lada Hitam (Piper nigrum L.))

SHUN HUI CHEONG¹, FRANKLIN RAGAI KUNDAT¹, MUI YUN WONG² & YEE MIN KWAN^1,3,*

¹Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

²Institute of Plantation Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43000 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Institute of Ecosystem Science Borneo (IEB), Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Received: 13 December 2021/Accepted: 17 June 2022

Abstract

Yellowing disease has become one of the main threats to black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) production. This study was conducted to isolate and characterize Fusarium species associated with yellowing disease based on morphological and molecular characteristics, and to evaluate their pathogenicity on black pepper. Fungal isolates were recovered from symptomatic black pepper plants located in major growing areas in Sarawak. Based on morphological characteristics, a total of 73 Fusarium isolates were identified. Genomic DNA sequence analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) had confirmed the identity of the Fusarium isolates. The four identified Fusarium species were F. solani (90.4%), F. oxysporum (5.5%), F. concentricum (2.7%), and F. mangiferae (1.4%). Based on morphological characterisation, F. solani isolates were grouped into two distinct morphotypes, morphotype I and II. Phylogenetic analysis of F. solani has shown a high level of intraspecific variation among the isolates. The two major clades formed were found to correspond to the morphotype grouping. Pathogenicity test showed that all four Fusarium species are pathogenic to black pepper based on disease incidence and severity. This study provides new insights into the Fusarium species associated with yellowing disease in black pepper, and highlights the high genetic variability among the Fusarium isolates. This result calls for a critical revision of the current strategies in disease management, and resistance breeding programs in black pepper.

Keywords: Fusarium solani species complex; phylogeography; population genetic; root rot disease; slow wilt

Abstrak

Penyakit kuning telah menjadi salah satu ancaman utama kepada pengeluaran lada hitam (Piper nigrum L.). Kajian ini dijalankan untuk memencil dan mencirikan spesies Fusarium yang dikaitkan dengan penyakit kuning berdasarkan ciri morfologi dan molekul serta menilai sifat kepatogenannya ke atas lada hitam. Pencilan kulat diperoleh daripada pokok lada hitam bergejala yang terdapat di kawasan penanaman utama Sarawak. Berdasarkan ciri morfologi, sebanyak 73 pencilan Fusarium telah dikenal pasti. Analisis jujukan DNA genom bagi penjarak dalaman yang ditranskripsikan (ITS) DNA ribosom nuklear dan faktor pemanjangan translasi-1 alfa (EF-1α) telah mengesahkan identiti pencilan Fusarium. Sebanyak empat spesies Fusarium yang dikenal pasti iaitu F. solani (90.4%), F. oxysporum (5.5%), F. concentricum (2.7%) dan F. mangiferae (1.4%). Berdasarkan pencirian morfologi, pencilan F. solani telah dikelaskan kepada dua morfotip yang berbeza iaitu morfotip I dan II. Analisis filogenetik F. solani telah menunjukkan tahap variasi intrakhusus yang tinggi dalam kalangan pencilan. Dua klad utama yang terbentuk didapati sepadan dengan kumpulan morfotip. Kajian kepatogenan mendedahkan bahawa kesemua empat spesies Fusarium adalah patogen kepada lada hitam berdasarkan kejadian dan keterukan penyakit. Kajian ini memberikan pandangan baharu tentang spesies Fusarium yang dikaitkan dengan penyakit kuning pada lada hitam dan menyerlahkan kebolehubahan genetik yang tinggi dalam kalangan pencilan Fusarium. Hasil kajian ini mencadangkan semakan kritikal dibuat terhadap strategi semasa dalam pengurusan penyakit dan program pembiakan kerintangan bagi lada hitam.

Kata kunci: Filogeografi; genetik populasi; kelayuan perlahan; penyakit akar reput; spesies kompleks Fusarium solani

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^*Corresponding author; email: yeemink@upm.edu.my