Global Challenges in Identifying Plant Pathogenic Fungi: An Overview with Suggestions for the Way Forward
Monika C. Dayarathne, Kasun M. Thambugala, Dinushani A. Daranagama, Amin U. Mridha, Asha J. Dissanayake, Lakmali S. Dissanayake, Sajeewa S.N. Maharachchikumbura, RMCS Rathnayake, Saisamorn Lumyong and Sinang Hongsanan* Author for corresponding; e-mail address: kasun@sci.sjp.ac.lk, sinang333@gmail.com
Volume :Vol.50 No.4 (July 2023)
Review Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12982/CMJS.2023.039
Received: 31 March 2023, Revised: 25 June 2023, Accepted: 26 June 2023, Published: -
Citation: Dayarathne M.C., Thambugala K.M., Daranagama D.A., Mridha A.U., Dissanayake A.J., Dissanayake L.S., et al., Global Challenges in Identifying Plant Pathogenic Fungi: An Overview with Suggestions for the Way Forward, Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 2023; 50(4): e2023039. DOI 10.12982/CMJS.2023.039.
Abstract
Fungal plant diseases are responsible for major crop and postharvest losses worldwide, with a signifi cant socio-economic impact on many individuals who depend on an agriculture-based economy. This review discusses the major constraints in identifying plant pathogenic fungi (severely destructive on important crops) in sample collection, fi eld, and morphological observations, fungal isolation, obtaining pure cultures, applying Koch’s postulates, DNA barcoding, phylogenetic analyses, and naming fungi (under “One fungus, One name” concept) based on selected case studies. Additionally, available strategies/methods to overcome those limitations up to date are also discussed. Ultimately, we proposed suggestions to minimize those limitations.