Species Identification and Fungicide Sensitivity of spp. Causing Peanut Root Rot in Henan, China.

Peanut Root Rot (PRR) is a devastating disease that significantly limits peanut production worldwide. Although PRR has been frequently reported in Henan Province of China, the predominant species and their sensitivity to different fungicides remain unclear. Between 2021 and 2023, we surveyed 81 peanut fields across 17 cities in Henan Province, China, to assess PRR prevalence and species distribution. A total of 1131 isolates were identified based on the morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses and classified into 11 recognized species: (56.06%), (20.87%), (13.62%), (4.69%), (1.33%), (1.15%), (1.06%), (0.35%), (0.35%), (0.26%), and (0.26%). Pathogenicity assessments showed that all 11 species were capable of causing PRR, with exhibiting the highest isolation frequency and widespread distribution in all areas. Furthermore, the four species (, , , and ) were highly sensitive to the six fungicides, including prochloraz (EC values of 0.02 ± 0.00~0.06 ± 0.01 mg/L), pydiflumetofen (EC values of 0.31 ± 0.07~0.67 ± 0.06 mg/L), tetramycin (EC values of 0.11 ± 0.02~0.58 ± 0.08 mg/L), tebuconazole (EC values of 0.26 ± 0.07~0.65 ± 0.10 mg/L), prothioconazole (EC values of 1.14 ± 0.16~3.15 ± 0.81 mg/L), and difenoconazole (EC values of 0.62 ± 0.12~3.58 ± 0.76 mg/L). This comprehensive study is the first systematic documentation on the prevalence, virulence, and fungicide sensitivity of PRR pathogens in Henan Province. The findings of the current study will provide a theoretical basis for the effective management of peanut root rot in Henan, China.