Seedborne Fusarium neocosmosporiellum Causing Foot Rot-Induced Wilting in Peanut Identified in Texas

Abstract

A test of a batch of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seed variety of the runner type in 2021 in Texas revealed seed-associated Fusarium neocosmosporiellum. The identity of the Fusarium isolate was confirmed based on its morphological characteristics, as well as the internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1-alpha sequences. The inoculum potential of the Fusarium isolate was also evaluated on plants derived from F. neocosmosporiellum-free peanut seeds using the method of Koch's postulates. The results of pathogenicity tests determined the fungus to be pathogenic on peanut plants, resulting in foot rot-induced plant wilting and decline. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Keywords

• foot rot
• fungal pathogens
• Fusarium
• peanut