Identification and Characterization of Alternaria Species Causing Early Blight on Tomato in Kazakhstan
Yessimseitova A. Abdrakhmanova A. Tokbergenova Z. Abdullaeva B. Muranets A. Nurtaza A. Kakimzhanova A.
May 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Agronomy
2025#15Issue 5
Early blight, caused by fungi of the genus Alternaria, is one of the most destructive diseases affecting tomato plants, leading to a decrease in yield and commercial value. Studies so far on Alternaria spp. affecting tomato in Kazakhstan have been limited to morphological identification or molecular analysis, without an in-depth phylogenetic study and pathogenicity assessment. In this study, between 2023 and 2024, 61 isolates were obtained from tomato leaves with early blight symptoms and identified, based on conidial morphology and DNA sequencing, as A. tenuissima (54%) and A. alternata (46%). The pathogenicity assessment showed that the disease index for A. tenuissima was 21.7–53.3, while it was 41.7–60.0 for A. alternata, indicating greater aggressiveness of the latter species. The disease index varied by region, with the highest average value recorded for A. alternata from Almaty (55.7%), while 38.2% and 36.2% for A. tenuissima were recorded from Pavlodar and Akmola, respectively. Both species showed notable intraspecific variation in pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of A. tenuissima detection as the causative agent of early blight in tomato plants in Kazakhstan. The results of this study may help facilitate the development of effective disease management strategies.
Alternariaspp , disease , morphology , pathogenicity , tomato
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National Center for Biotechnology, 13/5, Korgalzhyn Road, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Agronomy Faculty, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, 62, Zhenis Avenue, Astana, 010011, Kazakhstan
Department of General Biology and Genomics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2, Satbaev Street, Astana, 010008, Kazakhstan
Regional Branch “Kainar”, LLP “Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing”, Kainar, 040917, Kazakhstan
National Center for Biotechnology
Agronomy Faculty
Department of General Biology and Genomics
Regional Branch “Kainar”
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