A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)

This study presents the first report of a <i>Fusarium</i> wilt in <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> in Portugal. <i>Fusarium</i> is one of the most prominent genera of plant pathogens due to its wide range of hosts and mycotoxin production. The <i>Fusarium fujikuro...

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Main Authors: Tomás Cavaco, Catarina Gomes-Domingues, Filipe Gonçalves
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Biology and Life Sciences Forum
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/27/1/21
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author Tomás Cavaco
Catarina Gomes-Domingues
Filipe Gonçalves
author_facet Tomás Cavaco
Catarina Gomes-Domingues
Filipe Gonçalves
author_sort Tomás Cavaco
collection DOAJ
description This study presents the first report of a <i>Fusarium</i> wilt in <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> in Portugal. <i>Fusarium</i> is one of the most prominent genera of plant pathogens due to its wide range of hosts and mycotoxin production. The <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex (FFSC) encompasses several threatening known plant pathogens. <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> is a broadly distributed aromatic and medicinal plant rich in bioactive volatiles, which are relevant to several industries. The primary goal of this study was to identify and characterize the <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species putatively responsible for the observed wilt. This report displays symptomatologic, cultural, morphologic, genetic, and cytogenomic characteristics associated with this fungus and disease. The cultural features included flat, white-colored colonies with filiform margins. Additionally, these colonies displayed abundant cottony aerial mycelia at the upper surface and orange-violet color at the lower surface. On Carnation Leaf-Piece Agar, septate fusoid macroconidia were present, displaying a flattened tapering toward the basal part and a number of septa ranging from one to four. The comparison between the amplified and aligned ITS sequences revealed 100% similarity between the isolate and the FFSC. Finally, a flow cytometry assay revealed an estimated genome size of 29.9 Mbp. This finding contrasts with other known pathogens from the <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex. Ultimately, novel pathogens might be uncovered by exploring the mycobiome of diseased <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> plants.
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spelling doaj.art-80d4230f683e4ff1b7ab870c6a6bb89c2024-03-27T13:28:23ZengMDPI AGBiology and Life Sciences Forum2673-99762023-11-012712110.3390/IECAG2023-15755A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)Tomás Cavaco0Catarina Gomes-Domingues1Filipe Gonçalves2Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-107 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-107 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-107 Lisboa, PortugalThis study presents the first report of a <i>Fusarium</i> wilt in <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> in Portugal. <i>Fusarium</i> is one of the most prominent genera of plant pathogens due to its wide range of hosts and mycotoxin production. The <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex (FFSC) encompasses several threatening known plant pathogens. <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> is a broadly distributed aromatic and medicinal plant rich in bioactive volatiles, which are relevant to several industries. The primary goal of this study was to identify and characterize the <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species putatively responsible for the observed wilt. This report displays symptomatologic, cultural, morphologic, genetic, and cytogenomic characteristics associated with this fungus and disease. The cultural features included flat, white-colored colonies with filiform margins. Additionally, these colonies displayed abundant cottony aerial mycelia at the upper surface and orange-violet color at the lower surface. On Carnation Leaf-Piece Agar, septate fusoid macroconidia were present, displaying a flattened tapering toward the basal part and a number of septa ranging from one to four. The comparison between the amplified and aligned ITS sequences revealed 100% similarity between the isolate and the FFSC. Finally, a flow cytometry assay revealed an estimated genome size of 29.9 Mbp. This finding contrasts with other known pathogens from the <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex. Ultimately, novel pathogens might be uncovered by exploring the mycobiome of diseased <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> plants.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/27/1/21Cytogenomicslemongrassfungal pathogen<i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complexplant pathology
spellingShingle Tomás Cavaco
Catarina Gomes-Domingues
Filipe Gonçalves
A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)
Biology and Life Sciences Forum
Cytogenomics
lemongrass
fungal pathogen
<i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex
plant pathology
title A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)
title_full A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)
title_fullStr A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)
title_full_unstemmed A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)
title_short A Cytogenomic Analysis Reveals a New <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> Species Associated with Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>)
title_sort cytogenomic analysis reveals a new i fusarium fujikuroi i species associated with lemongrass i cymbopogon citratus i
topic Cytogenomics
lemongrass
fungal pathogen
<i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex
plant pathology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/27/1/21
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