https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6795-9943
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Abstract
Pepper is an important source of income for Ethiopian smallholder farmers. However, Fusarium wilt has been hindering pepper production and productivity. This study characterized the morphological variability of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici isolates collected from potential pepper production areas of West Gojjam, Ethiopia. A total of 196 symptomatic plant samples were collected and screened. Based on the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, 67 F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici isolates were characterized. The distribution of F. oxysporum varied among districts, of which the largest number of the Fusarium isolates was recorded in Womberma (36%) and the lowest was in Burie Zuria (15%). The frequency of F. oxysporum occurrence varied in different plant parts including, roots (56.2%), stem (31.7%), and leaf (12.1%). Colony color varied from white (43.28%) to pink (10.45%). The radial growth of the colony varied from 2.5 – 4.5 cm on the 7th day of culture, of which, 6 isolates had >3 cm, 37 isolates had 3-4 cm, and 24 isolates had >4 cm radial growth. Two types of shapes were recorded with almost similar proportions (50.75% filamentous and 49.25% round). From the total 67 identified isolates, 74.6% had adherent mycelial and 26.4% of them had fluffy growth pattern. Microscopically, all the isolates produced micro- and macro-conidia. The microconidia had oval (67.16%), kidney (29.85%), and globose (2.99%) shaped morphology. The macroconidia were with curved (25) and straight (42) shaped morphology, with three to five septa. The isolates had an entire (73%) and filiform margin (27%). Further, pathogenicity and molecular characterization needs to be conducted.
PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT
Hot pepper is one of the most important vegetable cum spice crops valued for its aroma, taste, flavor, pungency and to make food tasty. Especially for most Ethiopians, most foods without the presence of hot pepper as a spice are tasteless. However, the production and productivity of this important crop has become reduced due to different biotic and abiotic factors. Among the biotic factors, fungal disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici. contributes for the major yield reduction of hot pepper. Hence, isolation and characterization based on morphological and cultural characters of this disease is a benchmark for enhancing production and productivity of hot pepper through screening resistant pepper variety from pathogenic isolates and breeding of resistant pure lines.
REVIEWING EDITOR:
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia, for providing the first author with study leave.
Authors’ contributions
TT: conceived, designed, performed the experiments, analysed and interpretation of data; drafted the manuscript; SA: take part in the design of the experiment, commented on the drafted manuscript, and revised the manuscript; TT: take part in the lab experiment, data analysis, and interpretation of data; MT: supervised the overall experiment, commented on the drafted manuscript, and approved the version to be published. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The research proposal was presented to the Institute of Biotechnology, Bahir Dar University and approved for data collection. An official letter was written by the Bahir Dar University, with a detailed description of the objective of the study.
Consent for publication
All authors agreed for the manuscript to be published.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available in [Science Data Bank at http://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.0306.], reference number [10.57760/sciencedb.03069].
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Tadesse Tilahun
Tadesse Tilahun, the first author, was born in 1988 in Ethiopia. He received a Bachelor of Sciences (BSc) degree in Applied Biology from Hawassa University, and MSc in Applied Genetics from Haramaya University, Ethiopia. He has worked as a university lecturer for two years at Samara University and for 5 years at Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia. As a lecturer, he has taught several courses including Principles of Genetics, Plant and Animal Breeding, Forest Genetics, Taxonomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology for undergraduate programs. He is currently a PhD candidate in Plant Biotechnology at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. He has published more than three articles and other group members published more than 50 articles in national and international journals. His research interest includes genetics, molecular breeding, and plant biotechnology.