Isolation and molecular characterization of ginger soft rot pathogenic fungi in Aizawl district of Mizoram, India

Ginger soft rot disease caused by fungal pathogens have become one of the most serious problems causing reduced production around the world. It has also caused a major problem among farmers of Mizoram state in India resulting in a huge decline in rhizome yield. However, the exact causative agents of this disease have not been identified in the state. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to isolate and characterized the causative agents of ginger soft rot disease from the diseased plants collected from five different villages of Aizawl district, Mizoram. Isolated fungi were cultured and morphological and molecular identification were done using internal transcribed spacer of rDNA. Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and Plectosphaerella cucumerina were identified in ginger samples from five villages. Fusarium spp. were the most common and seem to be the major causative agents. It is suggested that further investigation is required to explore the diversity of ginger soft rot pathogenic fungi in the whole state which could be helpful in introducing effective and eco-friendly disease management programme.

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Isolation and Molecular Characterisation of Ginger (Zingiber officinale. rosc.) Soft Rot Pathogenic Fungi from Champhai District of Mizoram, India

Science & Technology Journal ◽

10.22232/stj.2021.09.02.05 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 46-53

Author(s):

Albana L. Chawngthu ◽

◽

G. Rosangkima ◽

Vanram liana ◽

Chhungpuii Khawlhring ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Research Work ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Zingiber Officinale ◽

Soft Rot ◽

Therapeutic Uses ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Rot Disease ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Rdna

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.,Zingiberaceae) is an important crop grown in India known for its therapeutic uses. Wilting caused by bacteria, soft rot and yellow disease caused by fungi are the major diseases affecting Ginger production and its cultivation hampering its growth and development. The current study emphasize on the morphological and molecular identification of fungal pathogens causing soft rot disease in ginger that have become one of the major problem among farmers of Mizoram, India as a result of which resulted in a huge decline in rhizome yield and its production. Nevertheless, due to limited studies of the medicinal plants the causative agents associated with these plants are not available. The objective of this study is to investigate the diversity of fungi that cause soft rot in ginger. Twenty fungi were successfully isolated from four villages of Champha iDistrict, Mizoram. The fungi isolated from the infected rhizome were cultured and identification was carried out using morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of DNA sequence generated from Internal Transcribed Spacer rDNA region. Of the samples collected, F. solani,F. oxysporum, P. myriotylum were the most common causative agents. Much research work has yet to be undertaken explore the diversity of pathogrnic fungi causing soft rot in Mizoram which could be very significant in introducing competent and eco-friendly disease management programme.

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