In vitro Cultural and Conidial Characterization of Alternaria tenuissima, the Causal Agent of Leaf Blight in Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

Abstract

The study was conducted from September 2023 to September 2024 at the Department of Plant Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.). Current investigation was done in vitro to study the cultural and conidial characterization (efficacy of different solid media and carbon sources). Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) a historical crop, nowadays have gained significant attention because of its high nutritive values and implications for health. Earlier less disease incidence occurred but now this crop is facing lot of issues. Most widely known disease in this crop is leaf blight of kodo millet known to be caused by Alternaria tenuissima. In the experiments mentioned in the paper, effect of different solid media and carbon sources were tested to see the growth, sporulation and its conidial characterization. Among the media tested, potato dextrose agar (89.0 mm) showed the maximum growth followed by oat meal agar (79.4 mm). Sporulation was recorded highest in case of potato dextrose agar followed by oat meal agar. On the other hand, maximum growth was recorded in three treatments, i.e., in sorbitol, sucrose and glucose (85.0 mm) respectively. While highest number of sporulation is observed in maltose. Solid media reveals that how various fungi adapt to various conditions and explore their diet preferences. Fungi come into contact with a wide variety of carbon sources in vivo, including as sugars, amino acids and organic acids. Various carbon sources can be used in in vitro experiments to recreate comparable conditions and show how fungus adjust to diverse nutritional surroundings while spreading the infections. Hence, these studies can be used to study the nature of the fungus and their preferences resulting in decreasing the disease incidence and its impact.