Abstract
Bamboo spp. are a significant source of raw materials for the paper and pulp industries worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to identify pathogens accurately since they can pose a significant threat to bamboo in nurseries and plantations. In January 2021, symptoms of leaf spot and blight disease were observed on Bambusa polymorpha in the central nursery of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India. After examining the morphological characteristics and conducting a phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, Nigrospora sphaerica was identified as the causative agent. In pathogenicity experiments, N. sphaerica induced disease symptoms and was successfully re-isolated from the inoculated leaves, thereby satisfying Koch's postulates. This study marks the first report of N. sphaerica as a foliar pathogen of B. polymorpha in India. Further research should focus on developing strategies to manage this disease in bamboo nurseries.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
