Light and Electron Microscopy Studies Elucidating Mechanisms of Tomato Leaf Infection by Pseudocercospora fuligena

Abstract

The fungal pathogen <i>Pseudocercospora fuligena</i>, known to affect tomatoes in the tropics and subtropics, has been reported from temperate climates including the United States and Turkey in recent years. In this study, an isolate from fresh tomatoes and the disease it causes were characterized and infection mechanisms investigated. Macroscopically, both sides of tomato leaves show indistinct effuse patches but prolific production of fuliginous lesions is conspicuous on the abaxial side first but also on the adaxial side later on as infection progressed. Microscopically, fascicles of conidiophores (11-128 µm × 3.5-9 µm) arising from stromata and conidia with up to 12 septations were observed. Molecular characterization of the isolate revealed high homology (99.8%) to other <i>P. fuligena</i> isolated from tomatoes in Turkey. Out of the 10 media tested, <i>P. fuligena</i> grew significantly well and sporulated better on unsealed tomato oatmeal agar and carrot leaf decoction agar, both supplemented with CaCO₃. Direct transfer of conidia from profusely sporulating lesions was the easiest and quickest method of isolation for <i>in-vitro</i> studies. Light and scanning electron microscopy on cleared and intact tomato leaves further confirmed stomatal penetration and egress as well as prevalence of primary and secondary infection hyphae. <i>In situ</i>, blocked stomatal aperture areas of 154, 401, and 2,043 µm² were recorded at 7, 12, and 17 days after inoculation, respectively. With the recent expanded horizon of the pathosystem and its consequential impact, such studies will be useful for a proper diagnosis, identification and management of the disease on tomato worldwide.