Variations in morphological and molecular characteristics of Phytophthora colocasiae population causing leaf blight of taro in Ghana

Abstract

The development of sustainable and appropriate management strategy to control leaf blight of taro depends on a good understanding of the population structure of its causal pathogen. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to characterise the population of Phytophthora colocasiae obtained from different locations in Ghana. Based on colony growth habit, the isolates were grouped into four morphogroups and expressed significant differences in colony diameter. Molecular analysis revealed polymorphism among the isolates. A dendrogram produced using unweight pair group method with arithmetic mean generated grouped isolates of P. colocasiae into six clusters. Results obtained proved the existence of variation in the causal pathogen of taro leaf blight disease in Ghana. This provides an important basis for developing suitable management strategies against leaf blight of taro caused by P. colocasiae based on good integrated approach.