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Status of Cassava Witches’ Broom Disease in the Philippines and Identification of Potential Pathogens by Metagenomic Analysis

Authors :
Darwin Magsino Landicho
Ray Jerome Mojica Montañez
Maurizio Camagna
Sokty Neang
Abriel Salaria Bulasag
Peter Magan Magdaraog
Ikuo Sato
Daigo Takemoto
Kensaku Maejima
Marita Sanfuego Pinili
Sotaro Chiba
Source :
Biology, Vol 13, Iss 7, p 522 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Cassava witches’ broom disease (CWBD) is one of the most devastating diseases of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), and it threatens global production of the crop. In 2017, a phytoplasma, Candidatus Phytoplasma luffae (Ca. P. luffae), was reported in the Philippines, and it has been considered as the causal agent, despite unknown etiology and transmission of CWBD. In this study, the nationwide occurrence of CWBD was assessed, and detection of CWBD’s pathogen was attempted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. The results showed that CWBD has spread and become severe, exhibiting symptoms such as small leaf proliferation, shortened internodes, and vascular necrosis. PCR analysis revealed a low phytoplasma detection rate, possibly due to low titer, uneven distribution, or absence in the CWBD-symptomatic cassava. In addition, NGS techniques confirm the PCR results, revealing the absence or extremely low phytoplasma read counts, but a surprisingly high abundance of fastidious and xylem-limited fungus, Ceratobasidium sp. in CWBD-symptomatic plants. These findings cast doubt over the involvement of phytoplasma in CWBD and instead highlight the potential association of Ceratobasidium sp., strongly supporting the recent findings in mainland Southeast Asia. Further investigations are needed to verify the etiology of CWBD and identify infection mechanisms of Ceratobasidium sp. to develop effective diagnostic and control methods for disease management.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20797737
Volume :
13
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4cc9dd2b51d44942badbb7013eba8ea8
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070522