First report of dry rot of potato caused by Fusarium sambucinum in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

In October 2020, the presence of an intense Fusarium dry rot disease was detected during a survey of potato tubers in the production storage facilities in Chui region, Kyrgyzstan. The species of Fusarium isolates, obtained from infected tubers, were identified as Fusarium sambucinum by using morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of the transcription elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-alpha) gene. The isolates were pathogenic to potato tubers, and Koch's postulates were confirmed by successful re-isolation of the pathogen. To our knowledge, this is the first report of dry rot of potato caused by Fusarium sambucinum in Kyrgyzstan.