MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION AND BIOCONTROL POTENTIAL OF Ampelomyces quisqualis AGAINST POWDERY MILDEW (Golovinomyces cichoracearum) IN SUNFLOWER
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/abr.2026.28.01.17Keywords:
Ampelomyces, powdery mildew, mycoparasite, sunflowerAbstract
Powdery mildew is a common disease in sunflower ecosystems, particularly during the flowering stage, and is caused by the obligate pathogen Golovinomyces cichoracearum (G. ambrosiae). The disease produces powdery growth on leaves, petioles, and flowers, leading to significant seed and oil yield losses. In present study, a mixed population of G. cichoracearum and Podosphaera xanthii was observed, with G. cichoracearum being predominant. To manage powdery mildew, twenty-one naturally occurring mycoparasitic fungi were isolated from different host plants. Based on culturo-morphological characteristics, ten isolates resembling Ampelomyces spp. were selected for further study. Under laboratory conditions, these isolates produced pycnidia within 7 days. Molecular characterization using ITS (18S and 28S rDNA regions) revealed genetic diversity among the isolates. Pycnidiospore concentration of 10⁸ spores mL⁻¹ effectively parasitized the conidia and conidiophores of G. cichoracearum in vitro. Among the isolates, HP 003 (A. quisqualis AQ 003; NCBI accession ON502948) showed superior pycnidial production and faster mycelial growth, resulting in reduced disease severity under field conditions. The mycoparasitic activity was associated with the production of hydrolytic enzymes and secondary metabolites. GC-MS analysis identified 39 compounds, including 2-methylfuran and 3-pentanol, which are implicated in metabolic pathways and plant defense responses. These findings highlight the potential of A. quisqualis AQ 003 as an eco-friendly biocontrol agent against powdery mildew disease in sunflower crop.
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