Fusarium mexicanum causal agent of mango malformation in Jalisco, Mexico.
Betancourt Resendes I., Velázquez Monreal J. J., Montero Castro J. C., Fernández Pavía S. P., Lozoya Saldaña H., Rodríguez Alvarado G.
Author Affiliation: Laboratorio de Patología Vegetal (LabPV), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), IIAF, km 9.5 Carr. Morelia-Zinapécuaro, Tarímbaro, C.P. 58880, Michoacán, Mexico.
Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología 30 : 115-127
Abstract : Malformation is one of the most important diseases of mango worldwide. Several Fusarium species have been identified as causal agents of this disease. Recently, a new species, F. mexicanum, was described causing malformation in mango orchards located in the central western region of Mexico; however, it was not detected in producing areas along the Gulf of Mexico. During the last years, there has been an increase in mango orchards presenting malformation in Jalisco, a state located north of the area where F. mexicanum has been detected. The objective of this work was to identify the pathogen causing floral and vegetative malformation in Jalisco. Morphological and genetic analyses of the genes ? tubulin, EF-1á, and histone H3, indicated that all the isolates studied were F. mexicanum. This pathogen is confirmed as the main species causing mango malformation in those states located along the central Pacific region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that F. mexicanum may be present as clonal populations whose dispersal could have occurred through commercialization of contaminated plants from nurseries. F. mangiferae, F. sterilihyphosum and F. subglutinans type, species causing malformation in other countries, were not detected in this study.