Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.

Banana is an important food crop and source of income in Africa. Sustainable production of banana, however, is at risk because of pests and diseases such as Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Foc can be disseminated from infested to disease-free f...

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Main Authors: Megan Ceris Matthews, Diane Mostert, Privat Ndayihanzamaso, Lindy Joy Rose, Altus Viljoen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236110
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author Megan Ceris Matthews
Diane Mostert
Privat Ndayihanzamaso
Lindy Joy Rose
Altus Viljoen
author_facet Megan Ceris Matthews
Diane Mostert
Privat Ndayihanzamaso
Lindy Joy Rose
Altus Viljoen
author_sort Megan Ceris Matthews
collection DOAJ
description Banana is an important food crop and source of income in Africa. Sustainable production of banana, however, is at risk because of pests and diseases such as Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Foc can be disseminated from infested to disease-free fields in plant material, water and soil. Early detection of Foc using DNA technologies is thus required to accurately identify the fungus and prevent its further dissemination with plants, soil and water. In this study, quantitative (q)PCR assays were developed for the detection of Foc Lineage VI strains found in central and eastern Africa (Foc races 1 and 2), Foc TR4 (vegetative compatibility groups (VCG) 01213/16) that is present in Mozambique, and Foc STR4 (VCG 0120/15) that occurs in South Africa. A collection of 127 fungal isolates were selected for specificity testing, including endophytic Fusarium isolates from banana pseudostems, non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains and Foc isolates representing the 24 VCGs in Foc. Primer sets that proved to be specific to Foc Lineage VI, Foc TR4 and Foc STR4 were used to produce standard curves for absolute quantification, and the qPCR assays were evaluated based on the quality of standard curves, repeatability and reproducibility, and limits of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD). The qPCR assays for Foc Lineage VI, TR4 and STR4 were repeatable and reproducible, with LOQ values of 10-3-10-4 ng/μL and a LOD of 10-4-10-5 ng/μL. The quantitative detection of Foc strains in Africa could reduce the time and improve the accuracy for identifying the Fusarium wilt pathogen from plants, water and soil on the continent.
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spelling doaj.art-fb9570f3eb1e4c2785377b73244b4b242022-12-21T18:25:02ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01157e023611010.1371/journal.pone.0236110Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.Megan Ceris MatthewsDiane MostertPrivat NdayihanzamasoLindy Joy RoseAltus ViljoenBanana is an important food crop and source of income in Africa. Sustainable production of banana, however, is at risk because of pests and diseases such as Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Foc can be disseminated from infested to disease-free fields in plant material, water and soil. Early detection of Foc using DNA technologies is thus required to accurately identify the fungus and prevent its further dissemination with plants, soil and water. In this study, quantitative (q)PCR assays were developed for the detection of Foc Lineage VI strains found in central and eastern Africa (Foc races 1 and 2), Foc TR4 (vegetative compatibility groups (VCG) 01213/16) that is present in Mozambique, and Foc STR4 (VCG 0120/15) that occurs in South Africa. A collection of 127 fungal isolates were selected for specificity testing, including endophytic Fusarium isolates from banana pseudostems, non-pathogenic F. oxysporum strains and Foc isolates representing the 24 VCGs in Foc. Primer sets that proved to be specific to Foc Lineage VI, Foc TR4 and Foc STR4 were used to produce standard curves for absolute quantification, and the qPCR assays were evaluated based on the quality of standard curves, repeatability and reproducibility, and limits of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD). The qPCR assays for Foc Lineage VI, TR4 and STR4 were repeatable and reproducible, with LOQ values of 10-3-10-4 ng/μL and a LOD of 10-4-10-5 ng/μL. The quantitative detection of Foc strains in Africa could reduce the time and improve the accuracy for identifying the Fusarium wilt pathogen from plants, water and soil on the continent.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236110
spellingShingle Megan Ceris Matthews
Diane Mostert
Privat Ndayihanzamaso
Lindy Joy Rose
Altus Viljoen
Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.
PLoS ONE
title Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.
title_full Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.
title_fullStr Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.
title_short Quantitative detection of economically important Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense strains in Africa in plants, soil and water.
title_sort quantitative detection of economically important fusarium oxysporum f sp cubense strains in africa in plants soil and water
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236110
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