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Mycoflora Associated with Basella Spp. and Their Pathogenic Potentiality

Sufia Akter
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Shamim Shamsi
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The occurrence of fungi associated with two species of Basella and their pathogenic potentiality is reported. A total of 12 species of fungi representing 8 genera of the class Deuteromycetes were found to be associated with Basella alba L. and B. rubra L.. The genus Basella belongs to the Basellaceae family and has two chief cultivars, Basella alba, which bears thick, fleshy, broad, oval to heart-shaped leaves all along its vine length and Basella rubra features pink or purplish stems and pink colour veins in the leaves. In either case, leaves and terminal, tender, 8 - 12 inches stems are ready for harvesting about 35 to 45 days after seeding. Most authors agree, however, that the two-color forms of Basella are not separate species. Perhaps both would best be treated as forms of Basella rubra. Basella is native to tropical Asia, probably originating in India or Indonesia. Today, it is grown widely in the tropics. Vine spinach is noted by regional names in different regions in Asia. Some of the common names for this herb are Ceylon spinach, Malabar spinach, saan choy (Chinese), mong toi (Vietnamese), alugbati (Philippines), pui saag (Bengali). remayong (Malay), Indian spinach (English), Poi, Safed bachla (Hindi), etc. Young Basella leaves and stems are popular vegetables in Asian countries. Basella alba is popular for its ethnobotanical properties. Various parts of the plant are used for the treatment of the diseases as well as for different healing activities of human beings as well as animals across the globe, especially in India and China. Some of the compounds available especially in the plant are basellasaponins, kaempherol, betalin, etc. Several extracts like aqueous, chloroform, ethanol and petroleum have been used for different pharmaceutical activities. Basella is lower in protein than some other leafy vegetables like amaranths, but it is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and a good source of calcium and iron (Adhikari et al. 2012). The disease is a constrain for the production of the vegetable. A lot of research has been done on its disease and control abroad but little work has been done on Basella in Bangladesh (Hossain 2007).

Keywords: Mycoflora, Basella spp., Pathogenic potentiality

Location: The Herbarium, Mycology and Plant pathology section, Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants, Fungicide

Objectives:

(i). to find the fungi associated with different varieties of Basella and

(ii). to study the pathogenic potentiality of the isolated fungi.

Methodology:

The specimens were cut into small pieces (2 mm × 2 mm) and surface sterilized by dipping in 10% chlorox for 3 - 5 minutes followed by rinsing in sterilized water. From each sample, 30 inocula consisted of leaf pieces were taken and placed on solidified PDA in Petri dishes at three pieces per plate. The plates were incubated for 5 - 7 days at 25 ± 1°C. Fungi grew from the inocula were transferred to separate PDA plates and PDA slants for further studies and preservation. The isolated fungi were identified based on morphological characteristics observed under a compound microscope following standard keys (Barnett and Hunter 1972, Booth 1971, Ellis 1971, 1976, Ellis and Ellis 1997 and Sutton 1980). Prevalence (%) of fungi in different specimens was also recorded. All the specimens included in the present study were preserved in the Herbarium, Mycology and Plant pathology section, Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh Pathogenicity of the isolated fungi was tested following modified 'detached leaf technique' (Azad and Shamsi 2011). Instead of blotting paper moistened cotton bar was used to prepare a moist chamber and autoclaved. Petri dishes containing a water-soaked cotton bar were used to maintain sufficient humidity to initiate infection. Healthy and young leaves of Basella spp. were collected. Leaves were washed with distilled water, surface sterilized with 10% Clorox for five minutes and rinsed in sterilized water. Twenty-five squire mm leaf pieces were placed in autoclaved Petri plates. Leaf pieces were inoculated with 5 mm (diameter) mycelial block that was previously cultured on PDA medium for seven days. All the fungi were tested to find out their pathogenic potentiality. Both ventral and dorsal sides of the leaves with and without pricking were inoculated with isolated fungi. Another set of leaf pieces inoculated with PDA block were maintained, which served as control. The plates were incubated at 25 - 28° C. After three days of inoculation, the examination of leaves under the pathogenicity test was started and continued for 7 - 10 days for disease development. Lesion size and colour were recorded. Basella spp. are severely invasioned by fungi throughout the world. Numerous small circular to sub-circular distinct leaf spots 2 - 4 mm in size were observed on upper surface of leaves. With the development of fungi and the progress of the disease, off-white lesions surrounded by a purplish brown border. Corresponding ventral surface of leaves showed pale brown lesion. Sometimes several spots coalesce together to form large lesions. A total of 12 species of fungi representing 8 genera of the class Deuteromycetes were fA total of 12 species of fungi representing 8 genera of the class deuteromycetes were found to be associated with Basella alba and B. rubra. and to be associated with Basella alba and B. rubra. The isolated fungi were Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Ascochyta sp., Aspergillus flavus Link., Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius, Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, Aspergillus terreus Thom., Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. Ex Fr.) Grove, Curvularia pallescens Boedijn, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid and two species of Penicillium. Prevalence of the fungi varied with species of Basella as well as healthy and diseased leaves. Pathogenicity test showed that Aspergillus fumigatus, A. terreus, F. oxysporum and C. pallescens were pathogenic to Basella spp.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 26(1&2): 83-87, 2013 (December)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

An undescribed disease was observed in Malabar nightshade (Basella rubra L.) in Miyagi Prefecture in 1996. Diseased plants showed large spots lesions with purple halos on leaves and stems. A pathogenic fungus was isolated from the diseased plants, and the leaf spot symptoms were observed in inoculated host plants. The fungus was identified as Fusarium proliferatum on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. This is the first report on the occurrence of the purple spot in Malabar nightshade in Japan (Hirei and Takayuki 2003). In Bangladesh leaf spot is a destructive disease of Basella spp. caused by Cercosopra sp. Hossain (2007) reported about the disease and its control. Present result is completely different from previous report by Fu and Zhang (2012), Anun et al. (2011) and Hirei and Takayuki ( 2003). This is the first record of association of Ascochyta sp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus Colletotrichum dematium, Curvularia pallescens, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp.1 and Penicillium sp.2 with Basella spp. Aspergillus fumigaues and A. terreus are mostly saprophytic in nature but produced symptoms on inoculated leaves. Leaf spot of Basella caused by Curvularia pallescen and Fusarium oxysporum is a new addition in the field of Mycology and Plant Pathology.

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