Comparison of two media for the detection of Botryodiplodin (A mycotoxin) produced by Botryodiplodia theobromae

Abstract

Botryodiplodin is a mycotoxin produced by Botryodiplodia theobromae that plays a key role in plant infection by damaging plant tissues. It is phytotoxic to plants and cytotoxic to humans and animals, making it an important concern for agricultural productivity and food safety. Screening methods have been developed to detect botryodiplodin-producing fungal isolates in plant materials. Traditionally, the Czapek Dox agar supplemented with glycine (CDA+G) medium has been used for this purpose; however, this method is relatively expensive and may fail to detect some toxin-producing isolates. To develop a more cost-effective and efficient detection procedure, the study compared CDA+G with a sucrose plus glycine (S+G) agar medium. Based on mean detection rates, S+G agar demonstrated superior performance, detecting botryodiplodin production in 70.47% of isolates compared with only 31.51% for CDA+G. These findings indicate that S+G agar is a more reliable and economical medium for identifying botryodiplodin-producing B. theobromae isolates, with potential benefits for research and disease management programs. In addition, a disease severity index (DSI) was established through pathogenicity tests of B. theobromae on coconut fruits. The relationship between DSI and botryodiplodin production was also assessed. Results showed a significant correlation between botryodiplodin levels and disease severity, demonstrating the involvement of this mycotoxin in the pathogenicity of B. theobromae. Isolates producing greater quantities of botryodiplodin generally caused more severe fruit rot symptoms, underscoring the toxin’s importance as a virulence factor and its contribution to disease development in coconut fruits.