Abstract
Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) is used as a nitrogen-fixing green manure in Korea to improve soil quality, reduce soil erosion, and suppress weeds and nematodes. In 2014, wilting sunn hemp plants were observed in green manure-cultivated fields in Wanju, Korea. Leaves of the infected plants began yellowing, starting with the lower leaves, eventually leading to their death. Moreover, a number of dark perithecia were observed on the wilting stems. Six isolates were obtained from these perithecia by single spore isolation. Based on their morphological characteristics, the isolates were identified as Fusarium udum (teleomorph: Gibberella indica). Macroconidia were slightly curved with almost hooked apical cell, and microconidia were formed on false heads by monophialides. Chlamydospores were produced abundantly in the hyphae, either singly or in clusters. To confirm the identification, multilocus sequence analysis was conducted using translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF), calmodulin (CAL), and histone 3 (HIS3). The sequences of TEF, CAL, and HIS3 showed 94.4~96.2%, 99.7%, and 99.6~99.8% similarity to the reference sequences of F. udum in NCBI GenBank, respectively. Pathogenicity was tested on sunn hemp and two soybean cultivars using the inoculation method of soil drenching with spore suspension. The wilting symptoms were observed only in sunn hemp and one cultivar of soybean (cv. Teagwang) after 14~21 days of inoculation. This is the first report of wilt disease in sunn hemp caused by Fusarium udum in Korea.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by a grant (Project No. PJ010004) from Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.
Figures & Tables
Fig. 1. Typical symptoms of Fusarium wilt on sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea). A, yellowing leaves of infected sunn hemp; B, severe wilting and necrosis symptoms in the older plants; C, a number of dark perithecia produced on infected stem of the plants.
