Morphological characterization, pathogenicity screening, and molecular identification of <i>Fusarium</i> spp. isolates causing post-flowering stalk rot in maize.

ABSTRACT: Post flowering stalk rot (PFSR) of maize caused by the Fusarium species complex is a serious threat to maize production worldwide. The identification of Fusarium species causing PFSR based on morphology traditionally relies on a small set of phenomic characteristics with only minor morphological variations among distinct Fusarium species. Seventy-one isolates were collected from 40 sites in five agro-climatic zones of India to assess the diversity of Fusarium spp. associated with maize crops showing symptoms of PFSR in the field. To investigate the pathogenicity of Fusarium spp. causing PFSR sixty isolates were toothpick inoculated between the first and second node at 55 days after sowing during the tassel formation stage of the crop in Kharif (Rainy seas

SUBMITTER: Harish J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10102488 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature