First report of Fusarium redolens causing root rot of Goji berry cv. 'Ningqi-7' in China

Goji berry is an important cash crop of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. In the summer of 2019 and 2020, a root rot outbreak appeared in Zhongning County Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The correct identification of the causal agent is very important for prevention and cure of this root rot disease. The rotten root samples of symptomatic trees were dug for strain isolation using tissues separation method. The fungi were identified based on both morphological characteristics and molecular signatures. Five healthy 1-year-old goji berry cv. 'Ningqi-7' seedlings inoculated with F. redolens QT114 showed root rot symptoms and F. redolens was re-isolated from the rotted roots of inoculated seedlings. This is the first report of F. redolens causing root rot of Chinese wolfberry (L. barbarum L. cv. 'Ningqi-7').