{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T15:31:12Z","timestamp":1764862272870,"version":"3.46.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764806400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"UK\u2019s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office","award":["B2329A-FCDO-FAW","B2291A-FCDO-BIOPESTICIDE"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["B2329A-FCDO-FAW","B2291A-FCDO-BIOPESTICIDE"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Accurate pathogen diagnosis is fundamental for effective crop disease management. In Kenya, a pathogen causing significant damage in potato farms was initially misidentified as Phytophthora infestans. This study aimed to correctly identify this pathogen and explore initial control measures using a polyphasic approach. The methodology integrated morphological observation, pathogenicity testing, and molecular analysis using ITS and EF1-\u03b1 gene sequencing. The results confirmed the pathogen\u2019s identity as Fusarium equiseti, with morphological features consistent with this species and molecular sequencing showing 99.6% identity to reference strains. This is the first official report of Fusarium equiseti as a potato pathogen in Kenya. Furthermore, in vitro assays evaluated the efficacy of native fungal endophytes for biocontrol. Four endophytes inhibited the pathogen\u2019s mycelial growth by over 70%, with Trichoderma atroviride isolate ICIPE 710 exhibiting the highest inhibition rate of approximately 91%. This research shows that effective identification of pathogens is crucial for proper management of diseases, ensuring timely control, saving resources and reducing crop losses. This study identified the native endophyte Trichoderma atroviride strain ICIPE 710 as a promising biocontrol candidate. The critical next step is to validate its efficacy in field trials for future development as a sustainable, practical alternative to chemical fungicides.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens14121239","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T15:14:06Z","timestamp":1764861246000},"page":"1239","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Fusarium equiseti Pathogen of Potato in Kenya and Its Potential In Vitro Biocontrol Using Fungal Endophytes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2364-6034","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marie Cecile","family":"Muhorakeye","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya"},{"name":"Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi P.O. Box 43844-00100, Kenya"},{"name":"Department of Agricultural Engineering, Rwanda Polytechnic, Musanze College, Musanze P.O. Box 226, Rwanda"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9593-9525","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fathiya M.","family":"Khamis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya"},{"name":"Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3399-1616","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Everlyne Samita","family":"Namikoye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi P.O. Box 43844-00100, Kenya"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2124-1626","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Komivi S.","family":"Akutse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya"},{"name":"Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"751","DOI":"10.1007\/s11540-022-09599-0","article-title":"Understanding potato production practices in North-Western Kenya through surveys: An important key to improving production","volume":"66","author":"Kwambai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Potato Res."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mburu, H., Cortada, L., Haukeland, S., Ronno, W., Nyongesa, M., Kinyua, Z., Bargul, J.L., and Coyne, D. (2020). Potato Cyst Nematodes: A new threat to Potato production in East Africa. Front. 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