Molecular Variability Among Fusarium Oxysporum Isolates Infecting Plants in Different Agricultural Environments in Libya

Ebtesam Moftah Alashger; Khansa Mohammad Khalil Elsheikh; Najah Yousef Alfatory; Salwa Muftah Eljamay

doi:10.71147/w4k00929

Authors

Ebtesam Moftah Alashger Plant Protection Department, Higher Institute of Agricultural Technologies, Al-Marj, Libya Author
Khansa Mohammad Khalil Elsheikh Biomedical Sciences Microbiology Department Faculty of Medicine Benghazi University, Libya Author
Najah Yousef Alfatory Plant Protection Department, Higher Institute of Agricultural Technologies, Al-Awailiyah, Al-Marj, Libya Author
Salwa Muftah Eljamay College of Medical Technology, Public Health Department, Derna, Libya Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2834-8028

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71147/w4k00929

Keywords:

Fusarium Oxysporum, Molecular Variability, Libya, Agricultural Environments, Genetic Diversity, Plant Pathology

Abstract

Fusarium oxysporum represents one of the most significant soilborne fungal pathogens affecting agricultural crops worldwide, causing devastating vascular wilt diseases that result in substantial economic losses. This comprehensive study investigates the molecular variability among F. oxysporum isolates collected from various agricultural environments across Libya, focusing on their genetic diversity, pathogenic potential, and adaptation mechanisms. The research employs advanced molecular techniques including PCR-ITS analysis, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic studies to characterize the population structure and evolutionary relationships of these isolates. Libya's diverse agricultural zones, ranging from Mediterranean coastal regions to desert oasis systems, provide unique ecological niches that may influence fungal genetic diversity and host specialization. Understanding the molecular variability of F. oxysporum in these environments is crucial for developing effective disease management strategies and resistant crop varieties. This study contributes to the global understanding of Fusarium diversity while addressing specific challenges faced by Libyan agriculture in the context of climate change and intensifying agricultural practices

Author Biography

Salwa Muftah Eljamay , College of Medical Technology, Public Health Department, Derna, Libya

College of Medical Technology, Public Health Department, Derna, Libya

References

Abi Saad, C., Masiello, M., Habib, W., Gerges, E., Sanzani, S. M., Logrieco, A. F., Moretti, A., & Somma, S. (2022). Diversity of Fusarium Species Isolated from Symptomatic Plants Belonging to a Wide Range of Agri-Food and Ornamental Crops in Lebanon. Journal of Fungi, 8(9), 897.

Adhikari, T. B., Gao, A., Ingram, T., & Louws, F. J. (2020). Pathogenomics Characterization of an Emerging Fungal Pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in Greenhouse Tomato Production Systems. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11.

Ahmed, Kararah, M., Abdel-Momen, S., & Elharrany, O. M. (2022). PATHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR VARIATION AMONG SOME ISOLATES OF FUSAIUM OXYSPORUM F.

AL-Masoudi, R. K. H., & AL Judy, N. J. (2024). Sequencing Analysis of the ITS Region for Some Fusarium Species Isolated from Infected Tomato Plants. Iraqi Journal of Science, 6894–6907.

Arie, T. (2019). Fusarium diseases of cultivated plants, control, diagnosis, and molecular and genetic studies. Journal of Pesticide Science, 44(4), 275– 281.

Ates, D., Altinok, H. H., Ozkuru, E., Ferik, F., Erdogmus, S., Can, C., & Tanyolac, M. B. (2019). Population structure and linkage disequilibrium in a large collection of Fusarium oxysporum strains analysed through iPBS markers. Journal of Phytopathology, 167(10), 576–590.

Ateş, A., Fidan, H., & Gökhan, B. (2020). MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Tomato yellow leaf curl virus AND Fusarium oxysporum formae speciales AND RACEs OF TOMATO AREAs IN NORTHERN CYPRUs.

Carmona, S. L., Burbano-David, D., Gómez, M. R., Lopez, W., Ceballos, N., Castaño-Zapata, J., Simbaqueba, J., & Soto-Suárez, M. (2020). Characterization of Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Isolates Associated with Commercial Tomato Crops in the Andean Region of Colombia. Pathogens, 9(1), 70.

Castillo-Sanmiguel, P. A., Cortés-Sánchez, L. R., & Acero-Godoy, J. (2021). Molecular aspects of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) vascular wilt by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and antagonism by Trichoderma spp. Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología, Mexican Journal of Phytopathology, 40(1).

Dayab, K. M., & ElGariani, N. K. (2019). Isolation and Identification of Tomato Wilt Pathogen Under Green House Conditions in Tripoli Area. Journal of Misurata University for Agricultural Sciences, 01, 327–337.

Elagamey, E., Abdellatef, M., kamel, S., & Essa, T. (2020). Fusarium oxysporum Isolates Collected from the same Geographical Zone Exhibited Variations in Disease Severity and Diversity in Morphological and Molecular Characters. Egyptian Journal of Phytopathology, 48(1), 43–57.

El Shamy, S., Adss, I., & Mashaheet, A. M. (2024). AGGRESSIVENESS VARIATIONS AMONG ISOLATES OF FUSARIUM OXYSPOIUM F.SP. LYCOPERSICI BASED ON THE PATHOGENICITY TEST, HOST DEFENSE RESPONSE, AND ISOLATES GENETIC VARIABILITY. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 23(2), 221–249.

Elzouki, E. M., Eljamay, S. M., & Alshilwi, Y. A. (2024). Isolation and Identification of Escherichia Coli in Uropathogenesis. Derna Academy Journal for Applied Sciences, 2(2), 103-110.

Gaber, M., El-Bebany, A., Fahmy, M., Aboshosha, S., & Wagih, E. (2022). Pathological and Molecular Variability of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp lycopersici Infecting Tomato in Egypt. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, H. Botany, 13(2), 275–287.

Jangir, P., Mehra, N., Sharma, K., Singh, N., Rani, M., & Kapoor, R. (2021). Secreted in Xylem Genes: Drivers of Host Adaptation in Fusarium oxysporum. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12.

Mohd-Hafifi, A. B., Mohamed Nor, N. M. I., Zakaria, L., & Mohd, M. H. (2024). Molecular phylogeny and genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum from various hosts in Malaysia. Scientific Reports, 14(1).

Muhsen, M., Kazem, K., & Dewan, M. M. (2020). MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF SOME TYPES OF FUSARIUM ISOLATED FROM THE SOIL OF KARBALA GOVERNORATE, IRAQ.

Nahi Al-Adhami, N. S., & Mohsen Al-Araji, A. (2019). Molecular characterization by PCR-ITS technique of Fusarium oxysporum isolated from tomato in Baghdad city. Tikrit Journal of Pure Science, 24(3), 31.

Saleh, O., Gabr, M., Khalil, M., & Mohamed, E. E.-D. (2016). Molecular Variations among some Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp lycopersici and Response of Different Tomato Cultivars and Seedling Age to Infection. Egyptian Journal of Phytopathology, 44(1), 205–226.

Slama, H. B., Cherif-Silini, H., Chenari Bouket, A., Qader, M., Silini, A., Yahiaoui, B., Alenezi, F. N., Luptakova, L., Triki, M. A., Vallat, A., Oszako, T., Rateb, M. E., & Belbahri, L. (2019). Screening for Fusarium Antagonistic Bacteria From Contrasting Niches Designated the Endophyte Bacillus halotolerans as Plant Warden Against Fusarium. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9.

Sobowale, A. A., & Ogunoye, O. A. (2022). Molecular Diversity of Fusarium oxysporum and Geotrichum candidum Isolated from Two Tomato Varieties Commonly Consumed in Some Southwestern Town in Nigeria. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 13(05), 668–685.

Srinivas, C., Nirmala Devi, D., Narasimha Murthy, K., Mohan, C. D., Lakshmeesha, T. R., Singh, B., Kalagatur, N. K., Niranjana, S. R., Hashem, A., Alqarawi, A. A., Tabassum, B., Abd_Allah, E. F., Chandra Nayaka, S., & Srivastava, R. K. (2019). Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici causal agent of vascular wilt disease of tomato: Biology to diversity– A review. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 26(7), 1315–1324.

Sukorini, H., Septia, E. D., Zalizar, L., & Khewkhom, N. (2021). Molecular Characteristic of Fusarium oxysporum from Different Altitudes in East Java, Indonesia. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 14(03), 383–388.

Vignesh, K., Rajamohan, K., Anandan, R., & Udhayakumar, R. (2020). MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR VARIATION OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP LYCOPERSICI ISOLATES CAUSING FUSARIUM WILT IN TOMATO. PLANT ARCHIVES, 21(supplement 1).

Zeeshan, M., Mukhtar, T., Inam-ul-Haq, M., & Asad, M. J. (2023). Incidence, Characterization and Pathogenic Variability of Fusarium oxysporum in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. International Journal of Phytopathology, 12(1), 19–29