Fungal Profile of Sugar Cane (Saccharum Officinarum L.) Pathogens Produced in Côte D’ivoire

ABSTRACT: Sugar cane occupies an important place in the Ivorian economy. However, it is subject to fungal attacks during its production, leading to enormous economic losses for farmers and manufacturers. The aim of this work was establish profile of pathogenic fungal strains of sugar cane in Côte d’Ivoire. To do this, 250 sugarcane samples composed of leaves, stems and shoots of sugarcane presenting pathologies were collected, then phenotypic and molecular identifications of the pathogenic fungal strains were carried out by PCR followed by sequencing. After identification, a pathogenicity test was carried out to demonstrate the involvement of these fungal strains in sugar cane pathologies. Three (3) fungal species including Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium subglutinans and Schizophyllum commune were identified. Fusarium verticillioides is believed to be the agent responsible for red movre disease and Fusarium subglutinans responsible for “Pokkah Boeng” disease. The fungus Schizophyllum commune is thought to be responsible for anthrax.