Molecular study of pathogenic and saprophytic fungal species on infected parts of Malus pumila L. of district Qilla Abdullah, Balochistan, Pakistan

Ali HASNAIN; Muhammad M. KAKAR; Nousheen YOUSAF; Shaukat ALI; Aisha TAHIR; Zahid MEHMOOD; Arooba JOHN; Amna EJAZ; BINYAMEEN; HARMA; Maryam IQBAL; Hafiz N. ANJUM; Tantri ANGGRAENI; Zafar IQBAL KHAN; Hsi-Hsien YANG; Muhammad U.F. AWAN

doi:10.15835/nbha51213167

Authors

Ali HASNAIN Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Muhammad M. KAKAR Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Nousheen YOUSAF Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Shaukat ALI Department of Zoology, Government College University Lahore, 54000 (PK)
Aisha TAHIR Department of Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences, Lahore (PK)
Zahid MEHMOOD Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Arooba JOHN Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Amna EJAZ Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
BINYAMEEN Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
HARMA Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Maryam IQBAL Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Hafiz N. ANJUM Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)
Tantri ANGGRAENI Indonesian Agency for Agriculture Instrument Standardization for Sweetener and Fiber Crops Raya Karangploso KM. 4, Malang, East Java 65152 (ID)
Zafar IQBAL KHAN Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha (PK)
Hsi-Hsien YANG Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Chaoyang University of Technology, (R.O.C.) (TW)
Muhammad U.F. AWAN Department of Botany, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (PK)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha51213167

Keywords:

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, CTAB method, fungal pathogen, ITS marker

Abstract

Apple (Malus pumila L) of the family Rosaceae, most cultivated fruit in temperate regions of the world and is used fresh or processed. The apple production is affected by several pathogens including fungi. The present study was designed to identify disease-causing agents that reduce fruit production in the district Qilla Abdullah of Balochistan, Pakistan, which is the main apple production area of the province. Three varieties of apple: ‘Tur-Kulu’ (‘Red Delicious’), ‘Shin-Kulu’ (‘Golden Delicious’), and ‘Kaja’ were selected. Infected leaf samples were collected from eight different sites of tehsil Gulistan, district Qilla Abdullah. The cultures of fungal micro-flora were grown on two media, potato dextrose agar (PDA), and malt extract agar (MEA) followed by incubation for one week. The resulting colonies were observed under a microscope and identified based on morphological characters. Predominant fungal species was identified through ITS marker and PCR amplification. The isolated pathogens belonged to Zygomycota and Ascomycota divisions. The pathogens found were Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae, A. terrus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor spp., Penicillium expansum, and one species of Absidia as well as Rhizopus. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were predominantly found in all varieties. Morphological and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the identity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. As a result of this study, the predominant pathogen species Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of the causes of leaf infection in apple varieties.

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