Identification, morpho-physiological characteristics and genetic differences of the fungal species causing pistachio die-back disease in Kerman province based on rDNA-ITS sequencing
Subject Areas : Plant Microbiology
Keywords: Dieback disease, ITS1, ITS4, PCR, phylogenetic tree.,
Abstract :
Background & Objectives: Dieback disease is a major problem in pistachio trees in Kerman province. It is caused by various fungi, including P. variotii. This study aimed to identify this fungal species based on morphology and rDNA-ITS sequencing. The study also investigated genetic differences in this region and correlations between genetic variations, morphology, and fungal growth rate in lab conditions. Materials & Methods: During 2021, diseased branches from different pistachio cultivars in Kerman were sampled. Isolation, cultivation and purification of the isolates were carried out and identification of the fungal species were performed based on morphological characteristics. The ITS region was amplified and sequenced using specific primers ITS1 and ITS4. The growth rate of fungal isolates on culture media was measured and compared. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA10 software. Results: According to morphological characteristics and the ITS sequences of the isolates, all isolates were identified as P. variotii. The phylogenetic tree demonstrated genetic differences in the ITS region among the isolates. No significant correlation was observed between the phylogenetic grouping of the isolates and the morphological differences or the average growth rate. Conclusion: There were differences in the sequences of the ITS region among the isolates. Sequencing the ITS region provided valuable support to confirm the morphological observations to identify P. variotii, although it could not establish a direct correlation between phylogenetic grouping and the morphological and physiological differences among the isolates.
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