ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on evolutionary biology of the globally devastating pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina causing huge losses in many crops worldwide. It talks about pathometry, basic morphological, cultural and physiological aspects of the pathogen. The chapter summarizes various kinds of research activity in the past that were directed towards host range, variation in symptom expression and occurrence and distribution of this pathogen worldwide. Numerous studies were undertaken to characterize morphological, cultural, and physiological parameters of Macrophomina phaseolina on different artificial media to identify optimized growth conditions with respect to nutrient requirements as well as diversity among the isolates. The pathogen occurs on many diverse hosts both across monocots as well as dicot crops. Winter rape, sesame, saffron, squash, lucerne, cotton, potato, sorghum, cucumber, okra, and capsicum have been reported as new hosts for M. phaseolina in Romania.
