Scientists Identify Citrus Branch Rotting Organism
“Incorrect disease identification has adverse effects in controlling the spread of fungi particularly those that cause the rotting of citrus branch,“ a group of scientists warned.
These scientists from the Nueva Viscaya State University in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya, and Maejo University, Sansai, Chiangmai, Thailand, conducted a study to determine the organism that causes the rotting of citrus plants.
Specifically, the study titled Ultrastructural Biology and Pathogenesis of Lignicolous Fungi Causing Rotting of Citrus Branch seeks to determine the taxonomy or morphological growth characteristics of lignicolous fungi or wood decay on artificial media; to study in-vivo ultrastructural pathogenesis of lignicolous fungi on citrus; and to determine the different life cycle/biological stages of the lignicolous fungi.
Studies revealed that the fungus causing rotting of citrus branch is a lignicolous fungus which belongs to the family of Ascomycete, order Hypocreales and genus Hypocrea. The findings deviate from the previous identification that the fungus responsible for such decay was citrus pink disease caused by Corticium salmonicolor.
Corticium salmonicolor is a basidiomycetous fungus considered as a minor fungal disease before, however, this fungal disease is now a major threat to citrus production.
In the absence of a study on the morphological characteristics of the fungal growth responsible for the rotting of citrus branch, it was presumed that such disease was the pink disease of citrus.
Unlike previous studies which proved that there are two types of spores from the putative organism causing rotting of citrus branch, the study conducted by the researchers from Nueva Viscaya State University and Maejo University indicated that there are other microorganisms which cause rotting of branches.
The researchers explained that application of pesticides is a waste when the disease itself is not known. Worse, it might even enhance the occurrence of fungal resistance most especially to fungicide.
The study Ultrastructural Biology and Pathogenesis of Lignicolous Fungi Causing Rotting of Citrus Branch is one of the finalists for the best research paper in the annual National Symposium on Agriculture Resources Research and Development (NSARRD). The NSARRD was initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) in recognition of the outstanding contributions of scientists and researchers in uplifting the status of agriculture, forestry and natural resources research and development. It highlights the celebration of the PCARRD Anniversary every year.
PCARRD marks its 38th anniversary on November 10 with the theme Agham at teknolohiya sa agrikultura at likas na yaman: kabalikat sa pagbabago at pagunlad. (S&T Media Service)
