Molecular and morphological traits of Pyricularia oryzae Cav. in the south of Russia

Abstract

Based on molecular genetic approaches, a study of the biodiversity of the phytopathogenic fungus Pyricularia oryzae Cav. was carried out in the south of Russia, the classification of morphological and cultural traits of the pathogen was carried out. In 2020, monitoring was carried out and 9 strains of the pathogen were isolated from the affected herbarium material collected from the fields of five ecological rice-growing zones of Krasnodar region (Krasnoarmeisky, Kalininsky, Abinsky, Slavyansky districts, Krasnodar). Using a multiplex PCR system based on fragment analysis, among the studied strains of Pyricularia oryzae Cav. 5 genotypes were identified in 2020, each of which is was characterized by a unique genetic profile. Their «DNA-passports» have been compiled. The studied isolates of the blast pathogen were characterized by morphological and cultural traits. 6 morphotypes of the pathogen were identified. Classification of the pathogen by morphological, cultural and genetic traits will allow obtaining scientifically grounded and comparable data that can be used in the analysis of the interaction of blast strains with rice plants on different varieties and in different agro-technological conditions in order to improve and rationalize agricultural activities. In addition, the studied approaches open up the possibility of using data in breeding, allowing the identification of pathogen forms that infect certain varieties.