Seedborne Fusarium neocosmosporiellum causing Foot Rot-Induced Wilting in Peanut Identified in Texas

A test of a batch of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seed variety of the Runner-type in 2021 in Texas revealed seed-associated Fusarium neocosmosporiellum. The identity of the Fusarium isolate was confirmed based on its morphological characteristics as well as the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) sequences, respectively. The inoculum potential of the Fusarium isolate was also evaluated on plants derived from F. neocosmosporiellum-free peanut seeds using the method of Koch’s postulate. The results of pathogenicity tests determined the fungus to be pathogenic on peanut plants, resulting in foot rot-induced plant wilting and decline.