Molecular Characterization Reveals the Presence of Plant Pathogenic Pythium spp. Around Bangladesh Agricultural University Campus, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

摘要

Background and Objective: Oomycetes (water molds) are ubiquitous organism thriving in moist or aquatic environment. They can cause devastating infections to animals and plants. Farmers, both crop and fish, count huge losses every year due to outbreak of oomycete infections. However, the lack of study in Bangladesh makes it harder to address the problem in the country. This study was conducted to investigate the diversity of oomycetes in the surrounding crop fields and water bodies of Bangladesh Agricultural University campus, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: The sampling took place during the winter season. A total of 356 water samples were collected out of which only seven came positive with oomycete growth. The seven isolates were grown in potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates. The isolates were identified using molecular methods that included DNA extraction, PCR amplification and subsequent sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the genomic DNA of the samples. Results: The BLAST analysis of the retrieved sequences to GenBank revealed that four of the isolates were Pythium catenulatum , two were Pythium rhizo-oryzae and the remaining isolate was Pythium torulosum strain. Pythium spp. are known to be plant pathogens of both crops and vegetables. Conclusion: The results suggest the evidence of plant pathogenic oomycetes around the study area that were causing damage to the crops and extend understanding of the diversity of the genus Pythium .