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Association of Lasiodiplodia theobromae with die-back and decline of nutmeg as revealed through phenotypic, pathogenicity and phylogenetic analyses

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Abstract

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a cosmopolitan pathogen geographically widespread in tropics and subtropics inciting economically important diseases on diverse plant genera. In the present study, Lasiodiplodia theobromae associated with nutmeg exhibiting die-back and declining symptoms was identified and characterized by adopting a polyphasic approach. The disease was characterized with the symptoms including general decline, water-soaking patches on branches and tree trunk, die-back of branches, necrotic lesions beneath water-soaked lesions and necrosis of vascular tissues. The isolates representing diverse nutmeg growing tracts were initially identified as Lasiodiplodia species based on macro- and micro-morphological characteristics. Subsequent analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α) and β-tubulin (β-tub) genes identified the pathogen as Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Pathogenicity studies were proved on nutmeg twigs and branches (in vitro) as well as on saplings (in vivo). The present investigation enunciated the association of Lasiodiplodia theobromae with die-back and decline of nutmeg employing a polyphasic approach which warrants further investigations on its spatio-temporal distribution, pathogen diversity, weather–host–pathogen interaction and formulating prospective disease management strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to The Director and The Head, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala, India for providing facilities. The authors thankfully acknowledge Mr. A. Sudhakaran ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, Kerala, India for photographic documentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, 673012, Kerala, India

    C. N. Biju, A. Jeevalatha, M. F. Peeran, R. Suseela Bhai, Fadla Basima, V. A. Muhammed Nissar, V. Srinivasan & Lijo Thomas

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  1. C. N. Biju
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  2. A. Jeevalatha
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  3. M. F. Peeran
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  4. R. Suseela Bhai
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  6. V. A. Muhammed Nissar
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  7. V. Srinivasan
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Contributions

Conceptualization of the research approach and experimental designs were developed by C. N. Biju (Principal investigator) with the assistance of M. F. Peeran, A. Jeevalatha, R. Suseela Bhai and Fadla Basima. V. A. Muhammed Nissar, V. Srinivasan, R. Suseela Bhai and Lijo Thomas coordinated the surveys to various locations. Sample preparations, data collection and analyses of data collected from DNA extracts were completed by Fadla Basima, M. F. Peeran and A. Jeevalatha. C. N. Biju, M. F. Peeran and A. Jeevalatha wrote the manuscript and formatted the draft. Reviewing and revision of the manuscript were completed by all authors.

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Correspondence to C. N. Biju.

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Biju, C.N., Jeevalatha, A., Peeran, M.F. et al. Association of Lasiodiplodia theobromae with die-back and decline of nutmeg as revealed through phenotypic, pathogenicity and phylogenetic analyses. 3 Biotech 11, 422 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-021-02961-y

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