First report of Fusarium equiseti causing basal rot of onion bulbs from India

Abstract

In March 2024, onion fields at ICAR-DOGR Pune, India, displayed basal rot symptoms averaging 10–15% disease incidence. The pathogen Fusarium equiseti was isolated, identified, and confirmed through sequencing Tef1-α gene primers. Pathogenicity was tested fulfilling Koch’s postulates and the pathogen was re-isolated. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the initial documented occurrence of F. equiseti causing basal rot of onion bulbs in India, emphasizing the necessity of developing management strategies for this pathogen.