ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION OF FUSARIUM SPP. CAUSING DRY ROT OF POTATO TUBERS

Emil Stefańczyk

e.stefanczyk@ihar.edu.pl
Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute, Młochów Research Center, Platanowa Str. 19, 05-831 Młochów, Poland (Poland)

Sylwester Sobkowiak

Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute, Młochów Research Center, Platanowa Str. 19, 05-831 Młochów, Poland; (Poland)

Abstract

Fungi of the genus Fusarium cause dry rot, a potato disease which develops during long-term storage of tubers. The disease-inducing capabilities differ among Fusarium spp., but may also vary within species uni-versally considered main dry rot agents. Identification of Fusarium spp. present on diseased tubers in a surveyed area can help minimize crop losses and mycotoxin contamination by, for example, applying proper fungicides or planning crop rotation. Here, we present a procedure of obtaining single spore colonies of Fusarium spp. from potato tubers infected by dry rot, their identification using molecular methods and ways of preservation.

Keywords:

β-tubulin, ITS, single-spore culture, tef-1α