NEW REPORT OF ASPERGILLUS AWAMORI FRUIT ROT OF GUAVA IN PAKISTAN
N. Akhtar*, K. Hanif, M. Shafiq and W. Anwar
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
*Corresponding author’s e. mail: naureenshahrukh@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Rotting of guava fruits, selling in local fruit markets of three districts of Punjab, Pakistan i.e. Lahore, Shiekhupura and Kasur was observed in September 2014. Isolation and identification of causal organism was carried out from the diseased fruits. Aspergillus awamori was identified based on morphological characters. Identification was further verified by nucleotide sequence analysis of ITS region of rDNA and partial calmodulin gene. Phyylogenetic analysis of amplified ITS and partial calmodulin gene nucleotide sequences clearly showed that A. awamori is a distinct species within black Aspergilli group and present in the A. niger clade. Finally, after confirmation of pathogenicity, A. awamori was reported for the first time as a guava fruit rot pathogen from Pakistan.
Key words: Aspergillus, guava,phylogenetic analysis, rot.
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