Epicoccum Indicum

Why in News?

A new species of phytopathogenic fungi, epicoccum indicum was recently discovered by researchers at Banaras Hindu University.

• It is a new species of phytopathogenic fungi associated with an emerging leaf spot disease in Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver).
• The species was identified based on morpho-cultural characteristics and multigene molecular phylogenetic analyses.
• It forms a distinct clade, separate from other related species, which justifies its classification as a new species.
• The species name refers to India, where it was discovered.

Phytopathogenic fungi

• It can cause diseases in plants, leading to significant economic losses in agriculture and horticulture
• It is contributed to 70-80% of plant diseases and infect parts of the plants such as roots, stems, leaves, fruits and flowers.
• Most of these fungi belongs to Ascomycetes and the Basidiomycetes.
• They possess a wide range of enzymes destroying the carbohydrate polymers (constitute the building materials of the cell walls).
• Some fungi kill their hosts and feed on dead material (necrotrophs), while others colonize the living tissue (biotrophs).

Leaf spot disease

• It is a plant disease that causes circular or elongated spots on leaves, stems, and sheaths.
• These spots can be brown, black, tan, or reddish in color, and can vary in size.
• Leaf spot disease can be caused by fungi, bacteria, nematodes, or other organisms.

Reference

Times of India | Epicoccum Indicum