Mycelial Compatibility Groups Among the Isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii Associated with the Southern Blight Disease of Tomato

Author: Brindhadevi S.*, Thiruvudainambi S., Theradimani M., Kumutha K., Sobanbabu G. and Sujithra P.

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Abstract

Sclerotium rolfsii is a polyphagus soil inhabitant and ubiquitous facultative saprophyte that causes southern blight/Collar rot on a variety of plants in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. This pathogen is known to cause disease in more than 500 crops. Southern blight disease is emerging as a significant impediment to tomato productivity. Studies of mycelial compatability groups within the population in a geographical region are important because these also document the changes occurring in the population. Hence different pathogenic isolates of S. rolfsii were obtained from different regions of Tamil Nadu. In the current study, eight isolates were obtained from diseased tomato crops in various areas of Tamil Nadu, and mycelial interaction was studied among them to determine the pathogen's field population. Only 21 of the 46 pairings produced a compatible reaction. The eight isolates had 48.45 per cent vegetative compatibility based on mycelial compatibility grouping.

Keywords

Mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs), tomato, Southern blight, vegetative compatibility.