July 01, 2025 | Journal of Phytopathology |
This study conducted by China Agricultural University, China, investigates the major diseases affecting newly established durian (Durio zibethinus L.) plantations in Hainan Province, where durian has recently been introduced as a high-value tropical crop. The warm and humid climate of southern Hainan creates favorable conditions for plant pathogens, posing challenges to durian production and quality.
From July 2023 to June 2024, disease surveys were carried out in 21 durian orchards across six regions in southern Hainan Island. The survey identified stem canker (black-head), fruit rot, and root rot as the most prevalent diseases, with symptoms including necrotic stem lesions, brown root decay, and water-soaked fruit rot. Severe infections were associated with poor tree growth and dieback. A total of 40 pathogen isolates were obtained from diseased fruits and stems and were analyzed using morphological observations, molecular identification, and pathogenicity tests.
Multi-gene sequence analysis based on ITS, tef-1α, and CoxI regions confirmed that all isolates belonged to Phytophthora palmivora. Pathogenicity assays further verified P. palmivora as the causal agent of durian stem canker and fruit rot. The findings establish P. palmivora as a major pathogen threatening durian cultivation in China and provide a scientific basis for disease diagnosis and management in emerging durian production areas.
