Abstract
Leaf Twister Disease (LTD) is one of the major biotic constraints of onion cultivation in Sri Lanka. The present study was conducted to determine morphological and pathogenic variations among Colletotrichum and Fusarium isolates, causing LTD. Fungal isolates were obtained from LTD-infected onions, collected from 30 locations in the Jaffna district of Sri Lanka. The colony characters, spore dimension, colony growth rate and fungicide sensitivity in vitro and in vivo were used to determine the morphological variations of fungal isolates. Pathogenic variations of the fungal isolates in terms of pathogenicity and virulence were determined by in vivo inoculation assays using red onion ( Allium cepa L. ) variety Vethalan. Morphologically-different 29 isolates of Colletotrichum and 16 isolates of Fusarium were collected from different farmer fields of Jaffna district. Out of the 29 Colletotrichum isolates, six were identified as C. gloeosporioides by morphological features of fungal colonies and spores. Colony and spore morphology also resembled C. acutatum and C. fragaria among the Colletotrichum isolates associated with the LTD infections of onion. Colony growth rate and in vivo sensitivity to fungicide (Thiophanate-methyl 50% + Thiram 30% WP) were highly variable among the tested isolates of Colletotrichum and Fusarium . Recommended dosage of the fungicide completely inhibited the mycelia growth in vitro. However, the recommended dosage as only a single seed treatment did not completely control any isolate of Colletotrichum or Fusarium under in vivo conditions. Virulence of the Colletotrichum and Fusarium varied significantly among the isolates in terms of rapidity and extent of disease spread. The red onion variety Vethalan was not completely resistant against any isolate of the two fungal genera tested. The present study revealed that the morphological and pathogenic variations exist among different isolates of Colletotrichum and Fusarium causing LTD in red onion in Jaffna district of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 25 (3): 412-431 (2014)
Highlights
Red onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the major cash crops grown in Sri Lanka
The objective of the study was to determine the morphological and pathogenic variations among isolates of Colletotrichum and Fusarium isolated from Leaf twister disease” (LTD)-infected red onions collected in Jaffna district, Sri Lanka
Twenty nine Colletotrichum isolates and 16 Fusarium isolates which were morphologically different were isolated from the LTD infected red onion samples collected from 30 different locations (Fig.s 1 and 2)
Summary
Red onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the major cash crops grown in Sri Lanka. Jaffna district accounts for nearly two thirds of the total extent of red onion cultivation in Sri Lanka (Pattie & Wickramasinghe, 1993). It is the general practice of farmers in Jaffna peninsula to. Leaf Twister Disease of red Onion cultivate onion as a monoculture, repeatedly in the same farm fields throughout the year. It provides conducive conditions for development of several economicallysignificant diseases of onion.
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