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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #351290
Title: Pathogenicity and genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum causing soybean root rot in northeast China

Author
item LI, YONGGANG - Northeast Agricultural University, China
item ZHAO, TONGXUE - Northeast Agricultural University, China
item HUA, GIA KHUONG HOAN - University Of Georgia
item XUN, LANKUN - Northeast Agricultural University, China
item LIU, JINXIN - Northeast Agricultural University, China
item Li, Shuxian
item HUANG, HANWEN - University Of Georgia
item JI, PINGSHENG - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2018
Publication Date: 5/15/2018
Citation: Li, Y., Zhao, T., Hua, G., Xun, L., Liu, J., Li, S., Huang, H., Ji, P. 2018. Pathogenicity and genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum causing soybean root rot in northeast China. Journal of Agricultural Science. 10(5):13-23.

Interpretive Summary: Soybean is an important edible legume cultivated around the world. However, soybean production is seriously impacted by the widespread occurrence of root rot disease. This disease is caused by a fungus, Fusarium oxysporum. In this study, variation in the ability to cause disease and genetic variation in 50 isolates of the pathogen were analyzed. Results indicated that the isolates in this study were genetically diverse and varied in their ability to cause root rot of soybean. Aggressiveness of the isolates did not appear to be associated with geographic location. Information generated in this study advances our knowledge about the diversity of soybean root rot pathogen, which helps development of effective strategies for managing this major disease.

Technical Abstract: Soybean is an important edible legume cultivated around the world. However, soybean production is seriously impacted by the widespread occurrence of root rot disease. In this study, genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum associated with root rot of soybean in Heilongjiang province, China, were examined. A total of 50 F. oxysporum strains were isolated from diseased soybean plants grown in Harbin, Heihe, Jixi, Jiamusi and Qiqihar of Heilongjiang province. A pathogenicity study indicated that all F. oxysporum isolates were able to induce root rot disease on soybean; 28% of the isolates were highly aggressive, 42% were moderately aggressive, and 30% were weakly aggressive. Aggressiveness of the isolates did not appear to be associated with geographic location or plant age of isolation. Genomic DNA of the isolates was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction using eight amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primers that generated 1,728 bands, of which 99% were polymorphic. Cluster analysis using UPGMA showed that the similarity values ranged from 0.15 to 0.47. At a similarity coefficient of 0.2, the isolates were separated into 7 groups. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that about 92% of the genetic variation resided within populations. No correlation was found between genetic diversity and aggressiveness or the geographic origin of the isolates. Results of the study indicate that pathogenic F. oxysporum commonly associated with root rot of soybean vary in aggressiveness and they are genetically diverse.