AUTHOR=Zhang Yunxia , Chen Chao , Mai Zhanglong , Lin Jieying , Nie Liting , Maharachchikumbura Sajeewa S. N. , You Chunping , Xiang Meimei , Hyde Kevin D. , Manawasinghe Ishara S. 

TITLE=Co-infection of Fusarium aglaonematis sp. nov. and Fusarium elaeidis Causing Stem Rot in Aglaonema modestum in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.930790

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.930790

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Aglaonema modestum</italic> (<italic>A. modestum</italic>) (Araceae) is an evergreen herbage, which is intensively grown as an ornamental plant in South China. A new disease was observed in <italic>A. modestum</italic> from 2020 to 2021 in Guangdong province, China. The disease symptoms associated with plants were initial leaf wilt, stem rot, and resulting plant death, leading to severe economic losses. In total, six <italic>Fusarium</italic> isolates were obtained from diseased plants. The putative pathogen was identified using both morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis of calmodulin A (<italic>cmdA</italic>), RNA polymerase largest subunit 1 (<italic>rpb1</italic>), RNA polymerase II (<italic>rpb2</italic>), translation elongation factor-1α (<italic>tef1-</italic>α), and beta-tubulin (β<italic>-tubulin</italic>) sequences. Two <italic>Fusarium</italic> species were identified, namely, one new species, <italic>Fusarium aglaonematis</italic> (<italic>F. aglaonematis</italic>) belonging to <italic>Fusarium fujikuroi</italic> species complex. In addition, <italic>Fusarium elaeidis</italic> (<italic>F. elaeidis</italic>) belonging to the <italic>Fusarium oxysporum</italic> (<italic>F. oxysporum</italic>) species complex was also identified. Pathogenicity assays were conducted by inoculating each species into potted <italic>A. modestum</italic> plants and co-inoculating two species. The results showed that two <italic>Fusarium</italic> species could infect plants independently and can infect them together. Co-infection of these two species enhanced the disease severity of <italic>A. modestum</italic>. Compared to single inoculation of <italic>F. elaeidis</italic>, severity was higher and disease development was quicker when plants were only inoculated with <italic>F. aglaonematis</italic>. In addition, these two <italic>Fusarium</italic> species could infect <italic>Aglaonema</italic> plants without wounds, while inoculation with a physical injury increased disease severity. This is the first report of co-infection by <italic>F. aglaonematis</italic> and <italic>F. elaeidis</italic> causing stem rot on <italic>A. modestum</italic> worldwide. This study will be an addition to the knowledge of <italic>Fusarium</italic> diseases in ornamental plants. These results will provide a baseline to identify and control diseases associated with <italic>A. modestum.</italic></p>