Tahereh Soleimani, Mojtaba Keykhasaber, Mohammad Ali Aghajani, Mahdi Pirnia, Leila Fahmideh, Volume 14, Issue 1 (2-2025)
Abstract
Rice is a major food crop in Asia. Fungal diseases such as root, collar, and stem rot, as well as leaf sheath blight, are common in most rice-growing regions of Iran and cause significant economic losses. This study was conducted to identify the fungal pathogens responsible for these diseases in Golestan Province, which ranks third in rice production in the country. Identifying these pathogens provides a foundation for implementing effective management strategies and improving crop yield. Samples showing symptoms of root and stem rot and leaf sheath blight were collected from rice fields across various locations in Golestan Province. Fungi were isolated from diseased tissues using water agar and potato dextrose agar media and then purified. For precise molecular identification, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the tef1-α and ITS-rRNA gene regions with the primers EF1728F/EF1-986R and ITS5/ITS4, respectively. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on rice seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Based on morphological, molecular, and pathogenicity analyses, the following fungal pathogens were identified in the diseased samples: Ceratorhiza hydrophila, Fusarium andiyazi, F. incarnatum, and Rhizoctonia solani. This is the first report of C. hydrophila, F. andiyazi, and F. incarnatum occurring in rice fields in this province.
