Phytotoxicity Studies of Ceratocystis fimbriata Causing Pomegranate Wilt in Punica granatum L. Cv. Kandhari Kabuli

Abstract

Ceratocystis fimbriata causing wilt disease in pomegranate was isolated and purified on potato dextrose agar medium from infected roots of Punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli. Microscopic examination of a fifteen days old culture revealed septate conidiophores and hyaline conidia (10 to15 μm long) and perithecia were black with a globose base (100 to 300 μm). Ascospores exuded from the apex of the perithecium neck in a long coil and were small, hyaline, and hat – shaped. The isolated culture was inoculated to one year old plantlets of pomegranate and also incubated with healthy leaves in a growth chamber. Typical symptoms of wilting were observed in both inoculated seedlings and detached leaves. The isolated culture filtrate also confirmed the presence of toxic metabolite in it as the in vitro callus inoculated in pure culture filtrate showed browning and death of the cells. Thus, an efficient method was developed for the identification of pathogen and extraction of culture filtrate form it which can be used as a selection agent for developing disease resistant plants.