title: Host-range dynamics of Cochliobolus lunatus: from a biocontrol agent to a severe environmental threat.
abstract: We undertook an investigation to advance understanding of the host-range dynamics and biocontrol implications of Cochliobolus lunatus in the past decade. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) farms were routinely surveyed for brown-to-black leaf spot disease caused by C. lunatus. A biphasic gene data set was assembled and databases were mined for reported hosts of C. lunatus in the last decade. The placement of five virulent strains of C. lunatus causing foliar necrosis of potato was studied with microscopic and phylogenetic tools. Analysis of morphology showed intraspecific variations in stromatic tissues among the virulent strains causing foliar necrosis of potato. A maximum likelihood inference based on GPDH locus separated C. lunatus strains into subclusters and revealed the emergence of unclustered strains. The evolving nutritional requirement of C. lunatus in the last decade is exhibited by the invasion of vertebrates, invertebrates, dicots, and monocots. Our results contribute towards a better understanding of the host-range dynamics of C. lunatus and provide useful implications on the threat posed to the environment when C. lunatus is used as a mycoherbicide.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India ; Department of Biotechnology, The University of Burdwan, Golapbag More, West Bengal 713104, India ; Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé I, BP 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Bengyella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Sayanika Devi
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Waikhom
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, West Bengal 721657, India.
authors.forename: Pranab
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (RCIBSD), Gangtok, Sikkim 737102, India.
authors.forename: Pardeep Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Chandradev K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Mohendro Wakambam
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Narayan Chandra
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Talukdar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000382:microbiology*