First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management

Abstract Background In October 2022, black pustules were observed on the lower surface of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) leaves in Kafer El-Dawar, North Egypt. Symptoms included abundant black pustules containing fungal conidia on plant leaves, which eventually led to the infected leaves drying out...

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Main Authors: Mohamed Saied Ali Khalil, Nehal Samy El-Mougy, Nadia Gamel El-Gamal, Mokhtar Mohamed Abdel-Kader
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06655-y
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author Mohamed Saied Ali Khalil
Nehal Samy El-Mougy
Nadia Gamel El-Gamal
Mokhtar Mohamed Abdel-Kader
author_facet Mohamed Saied Ali Khalil
Nehal Samy El-Mougy
Nadia Gamel El-Gamal
Mokhtar Mohamed Abdel-Kader
author_sort Mohamed Saied Ali Khalil
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In October 2022, black pustules were observed on the lower surface of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) leaves in Kafer El-Dawar, North Egypt. Symptoms included abundant black pustules containing fungal conidia on plant leaves, which eventually led to the infected leaves drying out and dying. Results Two causal fungi were isolated from symptomatic leaves and their pathogenicity was confirmed to induce typical disease symptoms. On the base on morphological features and further molecular identification, the isolated pathogens were identified as Alternaria alternata (accession No. PP197255), and Fusarium equiseti (accession No. PP197302). A survey was conducted to detect this disease on luffa plant leaves in northern Egypt, where luffa plants are cultivated. An attempt at biological control of this disease was made for two successive growing seasons under field conditions. BF, algae, Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis were applied as seed treatments, and soil drenches were applied, followed by foliar spraying. Throughout the two seasons, the applied bioagent B. subtilis significantly reduced disease severity followed by the T. harzianum and algae treatments. Conclusion Seed treatment with two bioagents, T. harzianum and B. subtilis, had the greatest effect on disease severity, followed by soil drenching + foliar spray, soil drench only, and in that respective order. This is the first report of black pustules on the leaves of Luffa plants caused by Alternaria alternata and Fusarium equiseti in Egypt.
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spelling doaj-art-377163a5fa70412aa83b9675babe1d0f2025-08-20T02:03:28ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111010.1186/s12870-025-06655-yFirst report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological managementMohamed Saied Ali Khalil0Nehal Samy El-Mougy1Nadia Gamel El-Gamal2Mokhtar Mohamed Abdel-Kader3Plant Pathology Department, National Research CentrePlant Pathology Department, National Research CentrePlant Pathology Department, National Research CentrePlant Pathology Department, National Research CentreAbstract Background In October 2022, black pustules were observed on the lower surface of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) leaves in Kafer El-Dawar, North Egypt. Symptoms included abundant black pustules containing fungal conidia on plant leaves, which eventually led to the infected leaves drying out and dying. Results Two causal fungi were isolated from symptomatic leaves and their pathogenicity was confirmed to induce typical disease symptoms. On the base on morphological features and further molecular identification, the isolated pathogens were identified as Alternaria alternata (accession No. PP197255), and Fusarium equiseti (accession No. PP197302). A survey was conducted to detect this disease on luffa plant leaves in northern Egypt, where luffa plants are cultivated. An attempt at biological control of this disease was made for two successive growing seasons under field conditions. BF, algae, Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis were applied as seed treatments, and soil drenches were applied, followed by foliar spraying. Throughout the two seasons, the applied bioagent B. subtilis significantly reduced disease severity followed by the T. harzianum and algae treatments. Conclusion Seed treatment with two bioagents, T. harzianum and B. subtilis, had the greatest effect on disease severity, followed by soil drenching + foliar spray, soil drench only, and in that respective order. This is the first report of black pustules on the leaves of Luffa plants caused by Alternaria alternata and Fusarium equiseti in Egypt.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06655-yAlternaria alternataBioagentsFusarium equestiLuffa cylindricaSponge gourd
spellingShingle Mohamed Saied Ali Khalil
Nehal Samy El-Mougy
Nadia Gamel El-Gamal
Mokhtar Mohamed Abdel-Kader
First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management
BMC Plant Biology
Alternaria alternata
Bioagents
Fusarium equesti
Luffa cylindrica
Sponge gourd
title First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management
title_full First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management
title_fullStr First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management
title_full_unstemmed First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management
title_short First report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in northern Egypt and its biological management
title_sort first report of black pustule disease in sponge gourd luffa cylindrica in northern egypt and its biological management
topic Alternaria alternata
Bioagents
Fusarium equesti
Luffa cylindrica
Sponge gourd
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06655-y
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