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First evidence of ethylene production by Fusarium mangiferae associated with mango malformation
Mohammad Wahid Ansari1, Alok Shukla2, Ramesh Chandra Pant2
1Department of Plant Physiology; College of Basic Sciences and Humanities; G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology; Uttarakhand, India; Plant Molecular Biology Group; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; New Delhi, India.
Abstract:
Malformation is arguably the most crucial disease of mango (Mangifera indica L.) at present. It is receiving great attention not only because of its widespread and destructive nature but also because of its etiology and control is not absolutely understood. Recently, Fusarium mangiferae is found to be associated with mango malformation disease. There are indications that stress ethylene production could be involved in the disease. Here we have shown the first direct evidence of production of ethylene in pure culture of F. mangiferae obtained from mango. The study also revealed that all the isolates dissected from mango acquire morphological features of F. mangiferae showing most similarity to the features of species with accepted standard features. The isolates of F. mangiferae from mango were observed to produce ethylene in significant amounts, ranging from 9.28-13.66 n mol/g dry wt/day. The findings presented here suggest that F. mangiferae could contribute to the malformation of mango by producing ethylene and probably stimulating stress ethylene production in malformed tissue of mango. Ethylene might be produced through 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase-type ethylene-forming-enzyme (EFE) pathway in Fusarium sp, which needs to be investigated.
Insights
Fusarium mangiferae, a fungus found in mango malformation disease, produces ethylene. This ethylene production by the fungus may contribute to mango malformation, a significant mango disease.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Mycology
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Mango malformation is a critical and destructive disease of mango (Mangifera indica L.).
- The exact cause and control of mango malformation remain incompletely understood.
- Fusarium mangiferae has been recently identified as a pathogen associated with this disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first direct evidence of ethylene production by Fusarium mangiferae in pure culture.
- To investigate the potential role of ethylene produced by F. mangiferae in mango malformation.
- To confirm the morphological characteristics of F. mangiferae isolates from mango.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and culturing of Fusarium mangiferae from infected mangoes.
- Morphological characterization of the isolated fungal strains.
- Quantification of ethylene production in pure cultures of F. mangiferae.
Main Results:
- All isolates from mango exhibited morphological features consistent with Fusarium mangiferae.
- F. mangiferae isolates produced significant amounts of ethylene, ranging from 9.28-13.66 n mol/g dry wt/day.
- Direct evidence of ethylene production by F. mangiferae in pure culture was established.
Conclusions:
- Fusarium mangiferae produces ethylene, which may contribute to mango malformation.
- The fungus might induce stress ethylene production in malformed mango tissues.
- Further investigation into the ethylene-forming-enzyme (EFE) pathway in Fusarium sp. is warranted.
