Article | Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Fusarium proliferatum in France; an emerging cause of dry rot of garlic

Leyronas, C., Chrétien, P., Duffaud M., Bourgeay, J.F., Troulet C. (2026) Phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Fusarium proliferatum in France; an emerging cause of dry rot of garlic. Phytopathol. Mediterr., pp. 197–208, Jul. 2026. https://doi.org/10.36253/phyto-16681 

Abstract: Garlic production is affected by dry rot, which is an emerging disease caused by several Fusarium spp., including Fusarium proliferatum (the main species). There is currently no effective method to prevent garlic dry rot during storage of garlic bulbs. Increased knowledge of the characteristics of F. proliferatum linked to dry rot development and pathogen population genetics would increase understanding of Fusarium dry rot epidemics in garlic. The present study aimed to assess genotypic and phenotypic diversity of F. proliferatum isolates collected from garlic in southern France and elsewhere from other plant species. Among the 185 Fusarium isolates genotyped using eight microsatellite markers, 54 complete multilocus haplotypes were obtained, of which five were identified as distinct. All of 55 isolates assessed for their mycelium growth and sporulation capacities were able to grow and to produce conidia at 15, 21, 30 and 35 °C, while none grew at 4 or 40°C. All of 20 assessed isolates were similarly pathogenic to garlic when assessed at 23 or 30 °C. All assessed isolates grew well at basic pH. No differences were detected among F. proliferatum isolates collected from French garlic or from other countries or other host plant species. The F. proliferatum isolates collected from garlic in France had low genotypic diversity and little phenotypic difference, compared with isolates obtained from garlic in other countries or from other host plants.