Molecular identification of Oidium neolycopersici on greenhouse tomato in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Powdery mildew caused by Oidium neolycopersici is a harmful diseases of tomato widespread all over the world, particularly affecting tomato plants in greenhouses. Despite the occurrence of the disease in Kazakhstan, no studies on molecular identification of the pathogen were conducted to date. In the present work, third generation sequencing of partial rRNA gene sequence was used to identify the isolate of the powdery mildew fungus from a local greenhouse, in addition to traditional identification based on symptoms and micromorphology. As a result, 5,693 reads specific to the target genomic region allowed to obtain a partial consensus sequence rRNA gene of 499 bp length. This sequence was used to identify the fungus. Although the specificity of this sequences was not certain within genera Erysiphe and Pseudoidium, in addition to morphological and pathological traits, it provided sufficient data to identify the found fungal isolate as Oidium [Erysiphe] neolycopersici. More precise identification and characterization require additional studies using purified genetic material of the fungus.