Phylogenetic analysis of late blight disease agent alternaria spp in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) with IPBS and SRAP markers

Many significant agricultural diseases globally belong to the Alternaria spp, under the genus Alternaria. Species in this area, including Alternaria alternata and A. tenuissima, exhibit significant variety, intermediate traits, and morphological plasticity, complicating species identification. Types of the genus Alternaria spp are extensively found as saprophytes on plant detritus and as diseases of many plant types. Alternaria spp is one of the most prevalent fungi in many locations worldwide. This saprophytic fungus induces plant diseases and contributes to grain spoiling in storage facilities. These pathogens cause Alternaria late blight (ALB) disease in Pistacia species, including pistachios and their wild cousins. Understanding the population genetic architecture of pathogens helps control plant diseases. Conversely, as pistachios are seen as commercially valuable, Türkiye is regarded as the third-largest producer of pistachios behind Iran and the United States. Two markers (PCR-IPBS and SRAP) were used to evaluate genetic variation and evolutionary relationships among them. This investigation included isolates of late blight affecting pistachio fruits from several locations in Türkiye. The collection included 73 isolates of A. alternata and 23 isolates of A. tenuissima, totaling 96 isolates that caused considerable damage to pistachio crops. The inter-primer binding sites (IPBS) markers for A. alternata exhibited an 84% polymorphism, resulting in 42 bands and eight monomorphic bands. In comparison, the polymorphism for A. tenuissima was 58%, yielding 29 bands, while monomorphic 21 bands. Conversely, Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) analysis of A. alternata revealed 90% polymorphism, yielding 27 and two monomorphic bands. In contrast, the polymorphism for A. tenuissima was 53%, producing 16 bands, whereas 14 bands were monomorphic. The IPBS fingerprinting technology is informative and valuable for assessing genetic diversity and connections among Alternaria species.