Identification and evaluation of pathogenicity of endophytic Botryosphaeria dothidea in apple (Malus domestica) in India

Shreya Gupta & Sanjai Saxena

Sydowia 77: 211-218

Published online on November 21st, 2024

Botryosphaeria dothidea is known to exist as an endophyte and latent pathogen in woody plants. In the current study, B. dothidea was isolated as an endophyte from the healthy fruit of Malus domestica procured from Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, India. The isolate was identified using morphological, molecular (ITS 1 and 4, and EF1-a), and phylogenetic analyses. Botryosphaeria dothidea is regarded as versatile in terms of host range, as they have been discovered in various plant species and have also been identified as potential plant pathogens while remaining dormant. Hence, pathogenicity of the isolated strain was tested on wounded and unwounded apple fruit. Lesions were observed on wounded and unwounded apple fruit inoculated with isolated B. dothidea, and 100 % fruit damage was observed within a week in wounded apples. Botryosphaeria dothidea was reisolated from the test fruit and identified based on morphological features, which confirmed Koch’s postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of B. dothidea being isolated as an endophyte and latent pathogen from apple fruit in India. The results also suggested that endophytes might be latent pathogens capable of becoming active under changing environmental conditions, disrupting the equilibrium between host and endophyte antagonism.

Keywords: Endophyte, latent pathogen, pathogenicity.

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