The Diversity of Fungi Involved in Damage to Japanese Quince

Abstract

In recent years, Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) plantations in Latvia have increased. Interest in breeding Japanese quince is also known in other European countries and Russia. The occurrence and harmfulness of fungal diseases have become increasingly significant. However, there is a lack of overall information in the literature about the diversity of fungi afflicting C. japonica. In our study, we aimed to determine the diversity of fungi associated with C. japonica in Latvia, with the possibility of identifying the fungi that are most characteristically associated with certain parts of the plant. Our research was conducted from 2017 to 2019 in eight Japanese quince plantations in Latvia. Samples of plant parts with disease symptoms were collected. Pure cultures of fungi were obtained and identified using ITS region sequencing. We determined the relative density of identified genera of fungi, which were grouped using hierarchical cluster analysis depending on the plant part from which they were found. Various disease-like symptoms were observed and described. A total of 538 isolates of fungi were obtained that belong to 36 genera and represent different ecological niches. Fusarium, Alternaria, Botrytis, and Sarocladium were the genera most frequently found during our study. The number of identified cases of fungal genera differed depending on the part of the plant from which the fungi were obtained. However, it is not possible to relate a specific genus of fungus to only one certain part of a plant. Further research is needed to clarify the pathogenicity of detected fungi and the composition of species in the detected genera of fungi.

Interaction of Plants and Endophytic Microorganisms: Molecular Aspects, Biological Functions, Community Composition, and Practical Applications

“…This Special Issue presents studies that highlight different aspects of the plant–endophyte interaction. Most of the articles report on the biodiversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi of various plant species [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The review article elaborates interesting data on the biodiversity of bacterial, fungal, archaeal and viral endophytes in ginseng and data on ginseng interactions with bacterial and fungal endophytes [ 1 ].…”

“…Additionally, changes in the diversity and composition of the community of root endophytic fungi associated with Aristolochia chilensis along the aridity gradient in the Atacama Desert have been studied [ 3 ]. A study of the diversity of fungi involved in the damage of Japanese quince is presented in this Special Issue [ 4 ]. In addition, this Special Issue presents three publications on the biodiversity of endophytes in grapes [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], including an analysis of the biodiversity of bacterial endophytes in the wild grape Vitis amurensis growing in Russia [ 5 ], the rhizosphere microflora of nine Vitis vinifera grape cultivars, including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Gem, Pinot noir, Riesling, Longan, Chardonnay in northern China [ 6 ], and relationships among grapevine V. vinifera cultivars (Furmint, Kadarka, and Syrah) chemical and physiological parameters in relation to leaf and berry mycobiome composition [ 7 ].…”