Variability in Bamboo Blight Etiology within Bambusa tulda across agroclimatic zones of Assam

• Geetashri Borah

  ICFRE-Rain Forest Research Institute, Assam, India.

  Author

• Rajib Kumar Borah

  ICFRE-Rain Forest Research Institute, Assam, India

  Author

• Salvinder Singh

  Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, Assam, India

  Author

• Rekha R. Warrier

  ICFRE- Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

  Author

The impacts of bamboo blight are both economic and ecological. It affects bamboo cultivation. The disease weakens bamboo stands, making them vulnerable to other stressors and changing local biodiversity dynamics. Bambusa tulda Roxb., the main bamboo in Assam, is widely cultivated and grows well in different ecological niches. The current study investigated the occurrence and cause variation of bamboo blight in B. tulda across the six agro-climatic zones of Assam. Fungal isolates cultured from diseased culms were characterized through morphological and molecular analyses. Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing identified the pathogens as Fusarium fujikuroi (NR_111889.1), F. bambusarum (NR_1761461.1), F. pseudonygamai (NR_137162.1), F. circinatum (NR_120263.1), and F. oxysporum f. sp. circeris (MK_752682.1), corresponding to the different zones. Variations in symptoms of B. tulda in response to the blight across zones suggest possible interactions between genotypes and pathogens, influenced by environmental factors. This is the first detailed account of the molecular diversity of Fusarium species linked to bamboo blight in Assam. It provides essential data for developing sustainable disease management strategies for its cultivation.

• Borah G. et al

• 09-06-2026 (2)
• 09-06-2026 (1)