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Presentation
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| Details of the presentation |
| Presentation |
Poster presentation |
| Title |
Fungal species associated with Pod malformation on Acacia karoo in Namibia
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| PDF Download |
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| Short title |
Fungal species associated with Pod malformation on Acacia karoo
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| Author(s) |
Chimwamurombe P.M.; Mapaure I.; Hausiku M.S.
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| Presenting author |
Chimwamurombe PM
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| Institution(s) |
Department of Biological Sciences, Univesrsity of Nmaibia, P.Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia
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| Keywords |
Acacia karoo; pod malformation; fungi; ITS sequences
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| Abstract |
Acacia tree species are by far the most common tree in Namibia. This is probably they are better adapted to the arid and semi-desert conditions that predominate in Namibia. Acacia trees are a common feature of the Namibia landscape and are of economic, medical, industrial, and domestic importance. In recent years, most of the Acacia trees have been observed to be infected by fungi causing disease symptoms like twig dieback and pod malformation. Acacia karoo, one of the most prominent Acacia tree in Namibia has been observed to be infected malformed. This abnormality in the growth and development of Acacia pods the results being a decline in seed production..The mysterious genesis of strange growths on the stems, leaves, flowers, pods and roots of plants have intrigued plant biologists for time immemorial. Galls are tumorous outgrowths that develop from rapid mitosis and morphogenesis of plant tissues and come in an astounding array of colors, shapes and sizes. However, some of the most unusual and remarkable galls are caused by fungal mycelia that permeate the host tissue other galls are indeed bad looking. Similar galls have been observed elsewhere in malformed mango and Syzygium inflorescences being caused by fungi.. In this study fresh malformed pods were sampled and pure single spore cultures were made. From these pure cultures DNA was extracted and used in an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR. The PCR products were purified and sequenced. The sequences were used in BLAST searches to interrogate the Genbank and high sequence similarity of 99% was obtained with Ampelomyces species complex. From this work we conclude that Ampelomyces species complex is associated with Acacia karoo podmalformation and that confirmation by Koch’s postulates will be the next step in order to determine the virulence and pathogenicity of the Ampelomyces species complex isolates that have been collected so far.
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| Congress Topic |
Microbiology
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| Topic No. |
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| Notes |
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| Ref. No. |
512 |
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