The identification and pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum causing acacia seedling wilt disease

Wilt disease with unknown etiology causes mass mortality in commercial Acacia mangium nurseries in South Sumatra. This pathogen induces symptoms of chlorosis in the lower leaves and develops into the shoots; subsequently, the plants wither and die. This research identifies the pathogenic species causing this wilt disease and to assess its pathogenicity or virulence. Fifteen isolates of Fusarium oxysporum with varying colony sizes and color pigments were recovered from symptomatic A. mangium seedlings. The pathogenicity test showed that all isolates could infect plants with wilt severity reaching 80%, and the pathogen was verified as causing vascular disease. Koch’s postulate was verified by re-isolating the F. oxysporum isolates. The pathogen was confirmed by observing the morphological characters and elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) gene sequences as F. oxysporum.