Phylogeny and origin of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae in Indonesia

• DOI: 10.1111/ppa.12365
• Publication Date: 2015-02-25T06:52:25Z
• Authors: A. G. Pinaria; M. H. Laurence; L. W. Burgess; E. C. Y. Liew
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences

Vanilla stem rot, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae (Fov), is the main constraint to increasing vanilla production in the major vanilla‐producing countries, including Indonesia. The current study investigated the origin of Fov in Indonesia using a multigene phylogenetic approach. Nineteen Fov isolates were selected to represent Indonesia, the Comoros, Mexico and Réunion Island. The translation elongation factor 1 alpha gene and the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene phylogenies resolved the Fov isolates into three distinct clades in both phylogenetic species of the F. oxysporum species complex, indicating a polyphyletic pattern of evolution. In addition, Fov isolates from Indonesia were also polyphyletic. These results suggest that the vanilla stem rot pathogen in Indonesia has a complex origin. The implications for disease management are discussed.