Study of micromycetes causing dry rot disease of potatoes in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the world’s most important food crops, cultivated extensively in more than 159 countries. Despite its high yield potential of 60-100 t/ha, post-harvest losses during storage can reach up to 60%, primarily due to tuber rot caused by phytopathogens. Among the diverse storage pathogens, fungi of the genus Fusarium – known for inducing tuber tissue decay – are regarded as particularly aggressive and destructive. This study aims to comprehensively identify the causative agents of potato dry rot using a combination of morphological characterization, molecular analyses, and pathogenicity assessments. The data obtained may serve as a foundation for the development of effective control strategies against diseases.

Fungal isolates belonging to the genera Alternaria, Talaromyces, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were recovered from potato tubers exhibiting symptoms of dry rot. Species-level identification was conducted using DNA sequencing. Pathogenicity test on isolates from the genera Alternaria, Talaromyces, and Fusarium revealed that all tested isolates were capable of inducing disease in potato tubers, although the severity of tissue damage varied among them.

Representatives of the Fusarium genus showed the highest aggressiveness, causing complete decay of tuber tissues within a two-month incubation period. The re-isolation of these fungi from infected tubers and their morphological and molecular characterization confirmed their consistency with the initial strains, fully supporting Koch's postulates in establishing the pathogen-disease relationship. Phylogenetic analysis of Fusarium isolates revealed their genetic diversity: Distinct species were identified, forming separate clades. This result demonstrates the reliability of multilocus analysis techniques in species delineation. The ITS and TEF-1α markers confirmed that the isolate of F. sporotrichioides, obtained from Kazakhstan, grouped with a reference epitype strain, confirming its taxonomic identity.