Pathogenicity of Aspergillus spp. isolates originating from Serbia

Abstract

Species of the genus Aspergillus, section Flavi are facultative plant pathogens with the capability to contaminate primary agricultural products in the field, at harvest, in warehouses, and during processing. Infection is done through silk or injuries on maize ears. The objective of this study was to test pathogenicity of 25 A. parasiticus isolates on barley leaves. A parasiticus was isolated from maize kernels collected from 22 locations in Serbia during 2013-2015. Inoculation of the first barley leaf was done by the spore suspension of the fungus A. parasiticus. The spot sizes were statistically compared and this comparison showed that the isolate MRIZP 3930 was the least virulent. The isolate MRIZP 3819 was the most virulent seven days after inoculation and together with the isolate MRIZP 4265 was classified into the most aggressive group rated as 5. Pathogenicity was confirmed in all isolates.

Vrste roda Aspergillus sekcije Flavi su fakultativní biljni patogeni, čija se sposobnost ogleda u kontaminaciji primarnih poljoprivrednih proizvoda u polju, tokom berbe, u skladištu i tokom procesa prerade. Infekcija se obavlja preko svile ili oštećenja na klipu kukuruza. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se oceni patogenost 25 izolata A. parasiticus na listovima ječma. Kulture A. parasiticus su izolovane iz uzoraka zrna kukuruza koji su prikupljani sa 22 lokaliteta u Srbiji u periodu 2013-2015. godina. Inokulacija prvog lista ječma izvršena je pomoću suspenzije spora gljive A. parasiticus. Statističkim poređenjem dobijenih vrednosti veličina pega, pokazano je da je najmanje virulentan izolat MRIZP 3930. Izolat MRIZP 3819 se izvojio kao najvirulentniji posle 7 dana inokulacije, a zajedno s izolatom MRIZP 4265 je svrstan u najagresivniju grupu koja je kategorisana ocenom 5. Svi ispitivani izolati su potvrdili patogenost.