A Diagnostic Guide for Fusarium Root Rot of Sweetpotato

Fusarium solani is an ascomycete fungal pathogen causing economically important diseases in a wide range of hosts worldwide including Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae. Fusarium root rot, caused by F. solani f. sp. batatas, is a destructive postharvest disease of sweetpotato. The disease primarily develops two to five months after harvest when the pathogen infects through wounds, leading to the development of dark sunken lesions and dry rot in stored roots. This diagnostic guide provides a comprehensive review of Fusarium root rot, covering symptoms, pathogen biology and taxonomy, geographic distribution, isolation, identification, storage, and pathogenicity testing. Molecular methods, morphological characteristics, culture media, inoculation methods, and the importance of wounding in the infection process are discussed for accurate diagnosis.