An efficient and reliable technique for isolation of Phytophthora cajani causing stem blight disease of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/jfl.v39i1.2488Keywords:
Baiting Technique, Pear-based Isolation, Phytophthora cajani, Stem blight of pigeonpea, Soil SampleAbstract
The genus Phytophthora encompasses a diverse group of soil-borne and waterborne fungal pathogens with a global impact. The present study specifically targets a soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora cajani, responsible for a devastating disease known as stem blight of pigeonpea. Isolation of Phytophthora cajani presents a significant challenge due to the propensity for contamination by ubiquitous saprophytic fungi and bacteria. The developed protocol was tested on rhizospheric soil samples collected from PSB infected sick plots. The baiting method involved placing pears in moist, soil-filled cardboard boxes. Fungal cultures obtained from the decayed pears closely matched the morphological characteristics of P. cajani and showed minimal to no contamination. These results confirm that the pear-based baiting technique is a reliable, efficient and rapid method for isolating pure cultures of P. cajani, making it suitable for further pathological and genetic studies.
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