Korean Journal of Agricultural Science ISSN:2466-2402(Print) 2466-2410(Online) 농업과학연구

Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium species is a major problem affecting cultivated cucurbit plants worldwide. Fusarium species are well-known soil-borne pathogenic fungi that cause Fusarium wilt disease in several cucurbit plants. In this study, we aimed to identify and classify pathogenic Fusarium species from cultivated Korean cucurbit plants, specifically watermelon and cucumber. Thirty-six Fusarium isolates from different regions of Korea were obtained from the National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Science Germplasm collection. Each isolate was morphologically and molecularly identified using an internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA, elongation factor-1α, and the beta-tubulin gene marker sequence. Fusarium species that infect the cucurbit plant family could be divided into three groups: Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum), Fusarium solani (F. solani), and Fusarium equiseti (F. equieti). Among the 36 isolates examined, six were non-pathogenic (F. equiseti: 15-127, F. oxysporum: 14-129, 17-557, 17-559, 18-369, F. solani: 12-155), whereas 30 isolates were pathogenic. Five of the F. solani isolates (11-117, 14-130, 17-554, 17-555, 17-556) were found to be highly pathogenic to both watermelon and cucumber plants, posing a great threat to cucurbit production in Korea. The identification of several isolates of F. equiseti and F. oxysporum, which are both highly pathogenic to bottle gourd, may indicate waning resistance to Fusarium species infection.