Elucidation of molecular variability among Pyricularia grisea isolates causing blast disease in forage pearl millet

Abstract

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is an important nutri-cereal for humans and a forage crop for livestock. It isthe only cereal crop that is proficient in adopting punitive climate conditions and peripheral soil. The blastdisease caused by Pyricularia grisea is a major problem in pearl millet, causing significant losses in high-yieldhybrids/varieties grown for fodder. Blast disease is a major biotic threat in the cultivation of pearl millet innorthern Madhya Pradesh, especially Gwalior, Morena, Bhind and Sheopur. In this investigation, we studiedeight isolates of P. grisea that cause pearl millet blast disease. We used RAPD and ISSR molecular markers toassess their morphology, pathogenicity and genetics. Mycelium growth was investigated maximum in isolate PGMP1, however, two isolates viz., PGMP1 and PGMP8 were found to be highly virulent. The pearl millet blastfungus population in northern Madhya Pradesh is genetically diverse. RAPD and ISSR markers reliablyexplained the relationships among the different isolates. Our results on the characterization of blast pathogenmight be advantageous in devising location-specific disease management strategies in pearl millet againstblast disease.