Identification of mucoralean fungi causing soft rot in papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit in Mexico

Abstract

Mexico is one of the main papaya producers worldwide; however, yield is affected by fungal diseases such as the fruit soft rot, which causes preharvest and postharvest losses. Although it is a common disease, information related to the identification of the causal agents is scarce. The objective in this study was to identify by morphological and molecular techniques the species of mucoralean fungi responsibles of papaya soft rot. Diseased fruits were collected during May-October 2014 in production regions in Colima, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. Mucoralean fungi were isolated, their pathogenicity was determined by the Koch´s postulates and fungal structures were registered. The molecular characterization was conducted by analyzing the ITS and 28S (LSU) ribosomal regions. The identification was confirmed by comparison with sequences deposited in the Genbank and by phylogenetic analysis. The strains isolated in this study were placed in monophyletic clades supporting to Gilbertella persicaria detected in the three states sampled, Mucor irregularis in Veracruz, and Rhizopus oryzae in Oaxaca as the causal agents of papaya soft rot. This is the first report of M. irregularis and R. oryzae affecting papaya fruit in Mexico. Although G. persicaria has been reported in Colima State, this study shows its presence in Oaxaca and Veracruz States.