Neocosmospora rubicola, a stem rot disease in potato: Characterization, distribution and management

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important crops in maintaining global food security. Plant stand and yield are affected by production technology, climate, soil type, and biotic factors such as insects and diseases. Numerous fungal diseases including Neocosmospora rubicola, causing stem rot, are known to have negative effects on potato growth and yield quality. The pathogen is known to stunt growth and cause leaf yellowing with grayish-black stems. The infectivity of N. rubicola across a number of crops indicates the need to search for appropriate management approaches. Synthetic pesticides application is a major method to mitigate almost all potato diseases at this time. However, these pesticides significantly contribute to environmental damage and continuous use leads to pesticide resistance by pathogens. Consumers interest in organic products have influenced agronomists to shift toward the use of biologicals in controlling most pathogens, including N. rubicola. This review is an initial effort to carefully examine current and alternative approaches to control N. rubicola that are both environmentally safe and ecologically sound. Therefore, this review aims to draw attention to the N. rubicola distribution and symptomatology, and sustainable management strategies for potato stem rot disease. Applications of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) as bioformulations with synthetic fertilizers have the potential to increase the tuber yield in both healthy and N. rubicola infested soils. Phosphorus and nitrogen applications along with the PGPB can improve plants uptake efficiency and reduce infestation of pathogen leading to increased yield. Therefore, to control N. rubicola infestation, with maximum tuber yield benefits, a pre-application of the biofertilizer is shown as a better option, based on the most recent studies. With the current limited information on the disease, precise screening of the available resistant potato cultivars, developing molecular markers for resistance genes against N. rubicola will assist to reduce spread and virulence of the pathogen.

Date Palm Waste Compost Application Increases Soil Microbial Community Diversity in a Cropping Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Field

“…The genus Neocosmospora are important plant pathogens, causing stem rot in many crops [ 65 ]. This fungus symptomatically causes stunted growth, yellowing of leaves and typical grayish-black streaking on plants.…”

ITS Metabarcoding Reveals the Effects of Oregano Essential Oil on Fusarium oxysporum and Other Fungal Species in Soil Samples

“…Their ability to antagonize plant-pathogenic fungi and adapt to various environmental conditions has been confirmed by genomic analysis [ 38 ]. Limited information is available for Neocosmospora rubicola concerning its interaction with F. oxysporum , apart from the fact that it was included in the genus Fusarium until recently [ 39 ]. Several studies have reported the wide-ranging presence of Rhizopus arrhizus in many organic substrates and soil samples, as well as its potential fungicidal properties against plant pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum [ 40 , 41 ].…”