Identity of Fusarium species associated with collar rot and wilt in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)

Authors

  • Florence Nassimbwa Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda Martyrs University, P.O. Box 5498 Kampala, Uganda.
  • Enock Matovu School of Biosecurity, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
  • Andrew Kiggundu Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.
  • Charles Changa Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.
  • Godfrey Sseremba Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda Martyrs University, P.O. Box 5498 Kampala, Uganda.
  • Francis Mumbanza Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.
  • John Adriko Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i12.246

Keywords:

Mean disease index, pathogenic fungi, passion fruit orchard, polymerase chain reaction, relative disease damage

Abstract

Background:

Despite the immense contribution of passion fruits to people’s livelihood on a global scale, the crop’s productivity remains low owing to fungal diseases causing up to 100% loss. Fungi are highly variable and the identity of species or variates responsible for recently devastating passion fruit wilt and collar rot diseases had not been characterized. This study was aimed at identifying pathogens causing wilt and collar rot symptoms in passion fruits.

Methodology:

Fungi were isolated from diseased samples collected from three locations in Central Uganda to identify Fusarium spp associated with collar rot and wilting of passion fruit. This was established by differentiating mycelium pigmentation on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), examining slides at X40 magnification under a light microscope for specific macro and microconidia, and amplification with specific Transcription Elongation Factor-1α, TEF 1α primers for identification of Fusarium spp.

Results:

It was revealed that wilting was associated with a single species, out of 6 selected isolates from the suspected wilted plant, 3 were Fusarium spp associated with the disease in the field but only one of these isolates was proved to be a pathogenic type Fusarium oxysporium. Collar rot was associated with one pathogenic Fusarium spp out of the 6 selected isolates.

Conclusion:

The results indicate that collar rot and Fusarium wilt are each caused by specific strains of Fusarium pathogens.

Recommendation:

The identification of pathogenic Fusarium in farmers’ orchards is a starting point for designing effective disease management measures against the predominant fungal pathogenic variants in passion fruits.  

Author Biographies

Florence Nassimbwa, Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda Martyrs University, P.O. Box 5498 Kampala, Uganda.

Florence Nassimbwa (MSc. Molecular Biology) is a Biologist (Lecturer) and an instructor (FOO) at DAS Aviation School, Entebbe, and a Ph.D. candidate in Biological sciences at Kyambogo University. I have knowledge and experience in Biological sciences and Aviation Human Performance and Limitations (Human Factors).

Enock Matovu, School of Biosecurity, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.

Ass. Prof. Enock Matovu obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Parasitology from the University of Bern, Switzerland in 2001, while he worked as a Research Officer at the Livestock Health Research Institute, Tororo, Uganda. Since then has continued his work on drug resistance and later diagnostics for African Trypanosomiasis. In 2004, he relocated to the Makerere University School of Veterinary Medicine, where he was first employed as a Lecturer. In 2008, Enock received the prestigious Royal Society Pfizer Award in recognition of his work on molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in African trypanosomes. The previous year (2007) he had obtained the Joint Third World Academy of Science Award for Young Scientists, for his contribution to the field of Molecular Parasitology. Enock Matovu has vast experience in HAT ranging from surveillance, diagnostics, drug resistance, and clinical trials.

Andrew Kiggundu, Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.

Dr. Andrew Kiggundu

Senior research scientist with National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). University of Pretoria, South Africa. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and the Department of Botany, Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology.

Godfrey Sseremba, Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda Martyrs University, P.O. Box 5498 Kampala, Uganda.

Dr. Godfrey Sseremba PhD

Research Scientist with the National Agricultural Research Organization. Agricultural Officer. Local Government. Lecturer- Uganda Christian University in Agriculture and Biology

Francis Mumbanza, Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.

Francis Mumbanza PhD

Researchers at the University of Ghent: Contact (voluntary lab member). CAVElab - Computational & Applied Vegetation EcologyFrancis Mumbanza Mundondo Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering.

John Adriko, Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 7065 Kampala, Uganda.

Dr. Adriko John is a Crop Scientist with experience in both field agriculture and research. Dr. Adriko holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Copenhagen, a Masters's Degree in Crop Science, and a bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, both from Makerere University. He has valuable skills and experience in agriculture and food security obtained during his work with District Local Government Production Department, National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), and National Agricultural and Research Organization (NARO). He also worked as Agricultural Consultant for NilePro Consult Limited and is now Arise Development Consultant playing a key role in training farmers on agriculture production for income and food security for the Arua District Local Government, World Vision, CARE Uganda, and Eastern Archdiocesan Development Network (EADEN). He also worked as Field Extension Agent for Farm Talk/ Tree Talk in West Nile (Straight Talk Foundation). He has carried out farmer training in improved crop production for Governmental as well as Non-governmental institutions. Dr. Adriko was the agriculture technical expert in a market access survey done for ZOA Uganda and the Lead Consultant in agriculture, food security, and child nutrition analysis for Plan Uganda.

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Published

2022-12-30

How to Cite

Nassimbwa, F., Matovu, E. ., Kiggundu, A. ., Changa, C. ., Sseremba, G. ., Mumbanza, F. ., & Adriko, J. . (2022). Identity of Fusarium species associated with collar rot and wilt in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 3(12), 10. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i12.246

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 12 (2022): December 2022 Issue

Section

Section of Genetics, and Biotechnology

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Florence Nassimbwa, Enock Matovu, Andrew Kiggundu, Charles Changa, Godfrey Sseremba, Francis Mumbanza, John Adriko

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.