Studies on Cultural, Morphological and Pathogenic Variability among the Isolates of F. verticillioides Associated with Maize Stalk Rot in Telangana State, India

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important cereal crops world and world’s third most leading crop, after wheat rice. affected by various biotic abiotic stresses. Among stresses, fusarium wilt maize caused Fusarium verticillioides serious disease maize. Tweleve isolates F. vericillioides were studied for its cultural, morphological pathogenic variability. Microconidia hyaline, oval to club shaped with a flattened base measured 5.12-7.11 μm X 2.04-3.18 (L×W). Macroconidia sickle 3-5 septa 20.01-31.12 2.01-3.21 The radial mycelial growth test ranged from 4.32 mm 8.65 at 10 days inoculationon on PDA medium. However, maximum was recorded isolate F-ISO-5 in all three mediums mean observed CMA. fungal colony initially white, floccose which turned purple dark brown 7 incubation 28 ± 2ºC. Cultures developed pigmentation like pink, light purple, violet varied age. All tested cultivar (kaveri- 50). severity among isolates. F-ISO-7 highly virulent severe upon inoculation score 8.0 1-9 scale followed F-ISO-1, F-ISO-3, F-ISO-4, F-ISO-5, F-ISO-6 F-ISO-8.