First report on molecular identification of Fusarium species causing fruit rot of mandarin (Citrus reticulata) in Bangladesh

Background: Fusarium rot is a newly introduced, devastating disease of citrus fruits. The current investigation was undertaken to characterize the microbes responsible for fruit in Citrus reticulata. Methods: Pathogens were isolated from infected fruits using morphological and molecular approaches. For confirmation fungi, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing techniques used. Results: fungus grown on potato dextrose agar three days it produced clamydospores, hyphae macroconidia. PCR fungal DNA gave 650 bp product. sequence obtained fungi had 99.42% similarity with reference Fusarium concentricum NCBI GenBank. deposited GenBank (Accession No. MT856371). Two isolates showed virulence capability fresh guava, sweet orange tomato fruits, which confirmed species identification Koch’s postulates. Artificially inoculated tested typical Fusarium symptoms. Conclusions: Outcomes present study are beneficial detection this detrimental postharvest reticulata fruits. Further research needed control economically important disease. This first caused by ns5:href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusarium">Fusarium Bangladesh.