Disease assessment and pathogenicity of Phomopsis spp. in fruits of eggplants (Solanum melongena) in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines
Article Sidebar
Abstract Views: 121
File Views: 77
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract. Nacionales AMB, Paguntalan DP. 2026. Disease assessment and pathogenicity of Phomopsis spp. in fruits of eggplants (Solanum melongena) in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. Nusantara Bioscience 18 (1): n180102. https://doi.org/10.13057/nusbiosci/n180102. Fruit rot is an economically important disease affecting eggplant (Solanum melongena) production worldwide. This study assessed the incidence, severity, and economic impact of fruit rot in Barangay Oyungan, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines and characterized its causal pathogen. Across three harvests, disease incidence averaged 35.05%, with 14.75% specifically attributed to fruit rot. The Percent Disease Index (PDI) was consistently high (mean 54.79%). Economic losses were substantial, with rejected fruit peaking at 51.55% of the harvest on 17 March 2024. Morpho-cultural characterization of fungal isolates revealed nine colonies, of which AES2R3 and AES3R3 exhibited typical Phomopsis spp. characteristics. AES2R3 produced both alpha- and beta-conidia, whereas AES3R3 produced only alpha-conidia. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that both isolates were pathogenic, producing characteristic sunken, gray-to-brown lesions and dark pycnidia by 22 days post-inoculation. These findings establish that Phomopsis spp. is a major cause of eggplant fruit rot in the locality and demonstrate its significant impact on yield and quality. Results highlight the importance of implementing integrated disease management strategies, varietal screening, and seasonal monitoring to reduce losses and support farmer profitability. This is the first study to report the occurrence of Phomopsis species causing fruit rot in Miagao, Iloilo.
Article Details
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Aumentado HD, Balendres MA. 2022. Pathogenicity of Corynespora cassiicola from eggplant to various plant species. J Phytopathol 170: 764-769. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.13148.
Balendres MAO. 2025. Diaporthe blight in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.): Etiology, epidemiology, and current management. Intl J Veg Sci 31 (5): 768-793. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2025.2519210.
Cai L, Hyde KD, Taylor PWJ, Weir B, Waller J, Abang MM, Zhang JZ, Yang YL, Phoulivong S, Liu ZY, Prihastuti H, Shivas RG, McKenzie EHC, Johnston PR. 2009. A polyphasic approach for studying Colletotrichum. Fungal Divers 39: 183-204.
Di Miceli G, Iacuzzi N, Leto C, Cozzolino E, Di Mola I, Ottaiano L, Mori M, Bella SL. 2024. Assessment of yield and quality of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruits improved by biodegradable mulching film in Southern Italy. Agronomy 14 (4): 867. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040867.
Flores ED, Cruz RSMD, Antolin MCR. 2018. Postharvest handling systems and losses of eggplant in major producing areas of the Philippines. Asian J Postharvest Mechanization 116-133. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13543.09128.
Iftikhar S, Anwar W, Akhter A, Ali S, Khan HAA, Khurshid M, Haider MS. 2021. Genetic analysis and pathogenic characterization of Alternaria tenuissima induced fruit rot of bitter gourd. Biodiversitas 22: 617-625. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d220213.
Kanematsu S, Kobayashi T, Kudō A, Ohtsu Y. 1999. Conidial morphology, pathogenicity and cultural characteristics of Phomopsis isolates from peach, Japanese pear and apple in Japan. Jpn J Phytopathol 65 (3): 264-273. https://doi.org/10.3186/jjphytopath.65.264.
Karthikeyan M, Yogiraj GP, Elaiyabharathi T, Jesu BA, Johnson I, Jaffer SB, Dhanabalan SP, Boopathi NM, Marimuthu S, Nejad HS, Adorada DL, Periyannan S. 2024. Comprehensive analysis of little leaf disease incidence and resistance in eggplant. BMC Plant Biol 24: 576. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05257-4.
Keinath AP. 2021. Differences in susceptibility to Phomopsis blight among seven eggplant cultivars. Plant Health Prog 23 (1): 57-64. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-07-21-0100-RS.
Kwon JH, Jee HJ. 2005. Soft rot of eggplant (Solanum melongena) caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum in Korea. Mycobiology 33 (3): 163-165. https://doi.org/10.4489/myco.2005.33.3.163.
Li S, Darwish O, Alkharouf NW, Musungu B, Matthews BF. 2017. Genome analysis of Phomopsis longicolla: A fungal pathogen causing seed decay in soybean. BMC Genom 18 (1): 688. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-017-4075-x.
Mahadevakumar S, Amruthavalli C, Sridhar KR, Janardhana GR. 2017. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Phomopsis vexans (Diaporthe vexans) causing leaf blight and fruit rot in brinjal in Karnataka, India. Plant Pathol Quar 7 (1): 29-46. https://doi.org/10.5943/ppq/7/1/4.
Maithani D, Sharma A. 2021. Identification of fungal pathogens associated with fruit rot of Solanum melongena L. in Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). Pharma Innov J 10 (7): 5-9.
Manda RR, Addanki VA, Srivastava SE. 2020. Phomopsis blight of Solanum melongena-brinjal/eggplant. Plant Cell Biotechnol Mol Biol 21 (55): 7-12.
Montecalvo M, Lapitan MJM, Dalisay TU. 2023. Disease-reducing effect of calcium salts against postharvest diseases of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Carabao). Philipp Agric Sci 106 (3): 253-262. https://doi.org/10.62550/GH076022.
Municipality of Miagao. no date (n.d.). Municipal Profile. https://www.miagao.gov.ph.
Nahar N, Islam MR, Uddin MM, de Jong P, Struik PC, Stomph TJ. 2019. Disease management in eggplant nurseries reduces wilt and fruit rot in subsequent plantings. Crop Prot 120: 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.02.018.
Nasehi A, Kadir JB, Abidin MAZ, Wong MY, Mahmodi F. 2012. First report of Alternaria tenuissima causing leaf spot on eggplant in Malaysia. Plant Dis 96 (8): 1226. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-12-0237-PDN.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 2022. Selected Statistics on Agriculture and Fisheries 2022. PSA, Quezon City, Philippines. https://psa.gov.ph.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 2023a. Highlights of Eggplant Production Ilocos Region, First Quarter 2023. PSA-RSSO I, Philippines. https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 2023b. Major Vegetables and Root Crops Quarterly Bulletin, April-June 2023. Volume 17 No 2. PSA, Quezon City, Philippines. https://psa.gov.ph.
Phoulivong S, Mckenzie EHC, Hyde KD. 2012. Cross-infection of Colletotrichum species: A case study on tropical fruits. Curr Res Environ Appl Mycol 2 (2): 99-111. https://doi.org/10.5943/cream/2/2/3.
Priya Reddy YN, Jakhar SS, Dahiya OS. 2018. Eco-friendly measures for control of Phomopsis vexans and other mycoflora of brinjal. Intl J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci 7 (5): 3667-3673. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.705.423.
Raja P, Reddy AVR, Allam US. 2006. First report of Alternaria tenuissima causing leaf spot and fruit rot on eggplant (Solanum melongena) in India. Plant Pathol 55 (4): 579. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01379.x.
Rohini M, Jayapala N, Pushpalatha HG, Gavirangappa H, Puttaswamy H, Ramachandrappa NS. 2023. Biochemical, pathological, and molecular characterization of Phomopsis vexans: A causative of leaf blight and fruit rot in brinjal. Microb Pathog 179: 106114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106114.
Saha NB, Tomar BS, Munshi AD. 2021. Phomopsis blight in eggplant and resistance-breeding strategies. J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 97 (1): 34-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2021.1966321.
Srinivasan R. 2014. Insect and Mite Pests on Vegetable Legumes: A Field Guide for Indentification and Management. AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, Shanhua, Taiwan.
Statista Research Department. 2024. Production Volume of Eggplant in the Philippines from 2012 to 2023. https://www.statista.com.
Udayanga D, Liu X, Mckenzie EHC, Chukeatirote E, Bahkali AHA, Hyde KD. 2011. The genus Phomopsis: Biology, applications, species concepts, and names of common phytopathogens. Fungal Divers 50: 189-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-011-0126-9.
Valida A, Rivera FR, Salabao A, Benitez M, Sudaria E, Acedo A, Ekman J. 2018. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) quality grading at two storage temperatures. Acta Hortic 1213: 297-302. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1213.43.