ISSN 2456-0235

International Journal of Modern Science and Technology

INDEXED IN 

​​​​​​​August 2020, Vol. 5, No. 8, pp. 210-217. 

​​​Assessment of Variability of Different Phytophthora colocasiae Populations in Western Kenya

J. Wegulo, N. K. Rop, E. Kiprop, B. Were
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eldoret, Kenya.

​​​*Corresponding author’s e-mail: jerusawegulo61@gmail.com

​Abstract

​Characterization of the fungus Phytophthora colocasiae and variability in the DNA of 14 of its isolates was assessed in this study. The occurrence of the Taro leaf blight disease which was assessed using severity and incidence showed that areas with high rainfall of about 2000 mm per annum, high temperatures of about 31°C had higher disease incidences of about 89% whereas the higher altitude areas with lower temperatures and high rainfall showed lower incidences (about 74%) but higher severity scores or a total leaf loss on the plant. Variability among P. colocasiae isolates collected from different fields was assessed using RAPD markers, 99% were polymorphic. There was apparent correlation of the genetic variability of the fungus to the agro ecological conditions in the region of origin of the fungus. The results of this study displayed a high degree of genetic variation among the isolates from the various agro ecological regions further illustrating that the different environmental conditions and human influence have an effect on the genetic constitution of the fungus in different regions growing taro in western Kenya.

Keywords:Phytophthora colocasiae; Assessment; Variability; RAPD marker; Western Kenya.

​References

  1. Abdulrashid M, Agwunobi LN. Taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) meal as feed ingredient in poultry. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2016;8:668-73.
  2. Ann PJ, Kao CW, Ko WH. Mating-type distribution of Phytophthora colocasiae in Taiwan. Mycopathologia 2019;93:193-94.
  3. Bassam BJ, Caetano G, Gresshoff PM. Fast and sensitive silver staining of DNA in polyacrylamide gels. Anal Biochem 2018; 196:80-3.
  4. Bassam BJ, Caetano G, Gresshoff PM.  DNA amplification fingerprinting of bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017;38:70-6.
  5. Beoswinkel HJ. Storage of fungal cultures in water. Trans Br Mycol Soc 2019;66:183-5.
  6. Booth C.  The genus Fusarium.  Kew Surrey, England; 2017.
  7. Brasier CM, Griffin MJ.  Taxonomy of Phytophthora palmivora on cocoa. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 2015;72:111-43.
  8. Butler EJ, Kulkarn GS. Colocasia blight caused by Phytophthora colocasiae. Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture of India, Botanical Series 2020;5:233-59.
  9. Duru CC, Uma NU. Post harvest spoilage of cormels of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L) Schott. Biosci Res Comm 2018;18(1):16-32.
  10. Erwin DC, Riberio OK. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide, American Phytopathological Society Press, New York; 2019.