Characterization, pathogenicity, and extracellular enzymes of Fusarium solani f.sp.phaseoli associated with common bean in Khorasan Razavi Province of Iran

Members of the genus Fusarium are considered highly destructive pathogens of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). This study aimed to identify the causal agent of the disease, confirm its pathogenicity following Koch’s postulates, and investigate the extracellular enzymes of F. solani. After conducting a field survey on common bean plants in Khorasan Razavi Province in August and September of 2021 and 2022 and isolating fungi, the isolates were identified as F. solani f. sp. phaseoli based on morphological traits and molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. Pathogenicity tests revealed the isolates causing symptoms such as yellowing, rotting, and wilting on common bean seedlings (cv. Derakhshan). Moreover, extracellular destructive enzymes, including pectinase and cellulase, were quantitatively assessed. The isolates exhibited cellulase activity more quickly and at higher levels than pectinase. Our findings indicated that the enzymes are key in inducing disease symptoms in the host plant.