Diplodia mutila as a new pathogen on water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes in Harike wetland

Abstract

The present publication reports the mycobiota associated with Eichhornia crassipes (C Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) infesting the Harike Wetland at Punjab in India and their potential application as a biological control agent based on their pathogenicity to the host plant. Of the 30 fungal isolates recovered from the infested samples of E. crassipes only one isolate #19BJSS caused 98% damage or infestation to the leaves during the in vitro leaf bioassay while it exhibited 100% plant death during the whole plant bioassay after 168 hours post inoculation (hpi). Morphological studies revealed it to be a member of Botryosphaeriaceae family which was further confirmed by Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) phylogenetic studies wherein the isolate #19BJSS clustered with Diplodia mutila. Botryosphaeria species have been predominantly associated with canker and die back diseases of woody plants. This is the first report of occurrence of Diplodia mutila #19BJSS as a pathogen of E. crassipes and for its potential as a biological control agent for the management of water hyacinth.