Detection of virulence-associated genes of Fusarium oxysporum and Geotrichum candidum strains in tomato cultivars from Nigeria
by Olalekan Ajibolade Ogunoye; Ayodele Adegboyega Sobowale; Odunayo Joseph Olawuyi
International Journal of Biotechnology (IJBT), Vol. 14, No. 4, 2023

Abstract: Tomato can be contaminated with fungal species, which is deadly for human and animal's consumption, as some of them produce mycotoxins. Fusarium oxysporum and Geotrichum candidum diseases still cause massive damages in greenhouses and open fields. The objectives of this study were to detect virulent genes (fmk1, endoPG {pg1}, and xyl3-genes) and ascertain pathogenic strains in F. oxysporum and G. candidum isolated from two tomato cultivars obtained from Nigeria. Isolation of the two fungal pathogens from the tomato cultivars were done on acidified Potato Dextrose Agar (APDA) plates at the Plant Pathology/Mycology laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Ibadan following standard procedures. DNA extraction from pure cultures of the pathogens was done at the Centre Laboratory of University of Ibadan. Molecular investigations of fmk1, pg1 and xyl3-coding gene in the fungal isolates were by PCR reaction. Genetic relationships among the pathogens were also estimated by constructing a Dendrogram through UPGMA using the Mega6 Software. Five strains of F. oxysporum and seven strains of G. candidum were identified. A positive amplification of the ITS region of the fungal pathogens was given by agarose gel electrophoresis on PCR reaction. Percentage similarity of the pathogens with those in GenBank was 99.17%100.00% for F. oxysporum and 98.48%100.00% for G. candidum. Gel image indicated a negative amplification for the virulence-associated gene flk1, pg1 and xyl3-gene in all the fungal strains. More studies should be carried out to investigate the gene responsible for virulence and diverse expression of virulence genes upon infection on tomato fruit should also be investigated. This is to ascertain the possibility of more genes coding for pathogenicity in these fungi.

Online publication date: Wed, 29-May-2024

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Biotechnology (IJBT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com