Fusarium root rot is usually classified as an extremely destructive soil-borne disease in the world. From 2020 to 2021, Fusarium root rot was observed in production areas, and seriously affected the yield and quality of Scutellaria baicalensis in Shanxi Province, China. Based on morphological characteristics and combined analysis of internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) sequences, 68 Fusarium isolates obtained in this work were identified as F. oxysporum (52.94%), F. acuminatum (20.59%), F. solani (16.17%), F. proliferatum (5.88%), F. incarnatum (2.94%) and F. brachygibbosum (1.47%). In the pathogenicity tests, all Fusarium isolates could infect S. baicalensis roots, presenting different pathogenic ability. Among these isolates, F. oxysporum was found to have the highest virulence on S. baicalensis roots, followed by F. acuminatum, F. solani, F. proliferatum, F. brachygibbosum and F. incarnatum. According to fungicide sensitivity tests, Fusarium isolates were more sensitive to fudioxonil and difenoconazole, followed by carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl and hymexazol. In brief, this is the first report of Fusarium species (F. oxysporum, F. acuminatum, F. solani, F. proliferatum, F. incarnatum and F. brachygibbosum) as causal agents of S. baicalensis root rot in Shanxi Province, China. The fungicide sensitivity results will be helpful for formulating management strategies of S. baicalensis root rot.
Keywords: Antimicrobial or Fungicide Resistance; Disease Control and Pest Management; Fungal Pathogens.