First characterization report of Botrytis cinerea infecting Tuberose in India

Abstract

Spot and blight (SAB) is an emerging disease infecting tuberose crop incited by Botrytis cinerea was newly identified in Tamil Nadu to cause heavy yield loss in tuberose production. In this study, the pathogen Botrytis cinerea isolates were subjected to morphological, physiological and molecular characterization. Four different isolates were isolated from tuberose growing areas of Tamil Nadu and identified as Botrytis cinerea on the basis of phenotype and genotype characterization. Morphologically the isolates BC1, BC2, BC3 and BC4 were observed to produce dull white, white, white and brown coloured, septate mycelium with conidiophore bearing oval to ellipsoid shaped conidia respectively on PDA medium at 20 °C. The Koch`s postulates proved the virulence and pathogenicity of all the isolates under glasshouse condition. The virulent isolates were confirmed as Botrytis cinerea by sequencing 18S-28S rRNA genes. The overall study was the first report on characterization of Botrytis cinerea infecting tuberose crop in India.