First report of Bipolaris maydis in Algeria from imported corn seeds

Abstract

In Algeria, corn crops rely on imported seeds, which can potentially introduce seed-borne pathogens to the country. Bipolaris maydis is one of these threatening pathogens; it is the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight, one of the most common and serious foliar diseases of corn worldwide. During a seed control aiming to detect potential fungal pathogens among imported corn seeds in Algeria, seed samples from different countries were collected from seed stores used by farmers across the country and tested using the freezing blotter method. B. maydis was isolated from one sample seeds and then characterized using morphological and cultural features, as well as Koch’s postulates. Additionally, the two internal transcribed spacers with the intervening 5.8S (ITS) and a partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GAPDH) were amplified and sequenced, followed by a phylogenetic analysis. Based on these features and sequence data analysis, the fungus was identified as Bipolaris maydis (teleomorph: Cochliobolus heterostrophus). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this pathogen in Algeria, highlighting the importance of field surveys for early diagnosis and the prevention of corn field infections.