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Diseases

Characterization of Fusarium Diversity and Head Microbiota Associated with Rice Spikelet Rot Disease

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, have isolated 51 strains of * * Fusarium* * spp. from rice spikelets in Lin'an, Yuhang, and Fuyang regions. The study revealed that the newly discovered species of * * Fusarium* * spp. associated with Rice Spikelet Rot Disease (RSRD) were * * Fusarium asiaticum* * species complex (FSAMSC) and * * Fusarium commune* * species complex (FNSC). The optimal growth temperature for * * F. sulawesiense* * and * * F. commune* * was 30 °C, whereas other species grew best at 25 °C.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers isolated 51 strains of * * Fusarium* * spp. from rice spikelets in Lin'an, Yuhang, and Fuyang regions, affecting the production and market price of rice, and can be harmful to humans and livestock.
  • The separation rate of * * F. sulawesiense* * was the highest (41.2%), followed by * * F. asiaticum* * at 37.3%.
  • The optimal growth temperature for * * F. sulawesiense* * and * * F. commune* * was 30 °C, while the optimal growth temperature for other species was 25 °C.
  • A high temperature of 35 °C did not inhibit the growth of * * Fusarium* * , as * * F. commune* * and * * F. fujikuroi* * could grow at this temperature.
  • The genetic diversity of fungi in rice spikelets was analyzed by amplicon Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing, and the correlations between strains of * * Fusarium* * spp. were measured.
  • * * Curvularia* * spp., which was affected by the condition of the spikelets, was negatively correlated with * * Fusarium* * spp. in relatively healthy rice spikelets and positively correlated with * * Fusarium* * spp. in diseased rice spikelets.
  • The research concluded that * * Fusarium* * spp. and * * Curvularia* * spp. can jointly cause the occurrence of RSRD.
  • The study provides significant insight for understanding the occurrence of RSRD and formulating prevention and control measures.

Statistics:

  • 51 strains of * * Fusarium* * spp. were isolated from rice spikelets in Lin'an, Yuhang, and Fuyang regions.
  • The separation rate of * * F. sulawesiense* * was 41.2%, followed by * * F. asiaticum* * at 37.3%.
  • The optimal growth temperature for * * F. sulawesiense* * and * * F. commune* * was 30 °C.
  • The optimal growth temperature for other species was 25 °C.
  • 35 °C did not inhibit the growth of * * Fusarium* * , as * * F. commune* * and * * F. fujikuroi* * could grow at this temperature.
  • The genetic diversity of fungi in rice spikelets was higher in diseased rice spikelets (RD) than in relatively healthy rice spikelets (RH).

Sources:

  • Characterization of * * Fusarium* * Diversity and Head Microbiota Associated with Rice Spikelet Rot Disease. (Plants, 2025,14(10):1531)
  • Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University
  • MDPI AG (publisher for Plants)
  • Life Science Weekly
  • NewsRx LLC (copyright holder)

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