First Report on Fusarium solani, a Pathogenic Fungus Causing Stem Rot Disease on Dragon Fruits (Hylocereus sp.) in Bali

Abstract

In recent years, dragon fruit crop (Hylocereus spp.) has become increasingly important in Bali Indonesia due to its high nutrient content and healing properties. However, the dragon fruit was reported to be seriously infected with several complex diseases caused by fungi and causing serious losses to the farmers. The study on morphological and molecular characterization the fungal pathogen was conducted to confirm the species of the fungi. Koch Postulate was applied to confirm the causal agent of the disease. There were two isolates of fungi isolated from the stems of diseased plants, namely  isolate w1 (from stem of H. undatus) and isolate w2 (from stem of H. polyrhizus). Based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, and analysis of 18S rDNA, both of them were identified as Fusarium solani. This is the first report on the F. solani the cause of stem rot disease on dragon fruits  in Bali.

Keywords : stem rot disease, dragon fruit, Fusarium solani