First Report of Phytophthora citrophthora on Penstemon barbatus in Italy

Penstemon barbatus (Cav.) Roth (synonym Chelone barbata), used in parks and gardens and sometimes grown in pots, is a plant belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family. During the summers of 2004 and 2005, symptoms of a root rot were observed in some private gardens located in Biella Province (northern Italy). The first symptoms resulted in stunting, leaf discoloration followed by wilt, root and crown rot, and eventually, plant death. The diseased tissue was disinfested for 1 min in 1% NaOCl and plated on a semiselective medium for Oomycetes (4). The microorganism consistently isolated from infected tissues, grown on V8 agar at 22°C, produced hyphae with a diameter ranging from 4.7 to 5.2 μm. Sporangia were papillate, hyaline, measuring 43.3 to 54.4 × 26.7 to 27.7 μm (average 47.8 × 27.4 μm). The papilla measured from 8.8 to 10.9 μm. These characteristics were indicative of a Phytophthora species. The ITS region (internal transcribed spacer) of rDNA was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS6 (3) and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 800 bp obtained showed a 100% homology with Phytophthora citrophthora (R. & E. Sm.) Leonian. The nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. DQ384611. For pathogenicity tests, the inoculum of P. citrophthora was prepared by growing the pathogen on autoclaved wheat and hemp kernels (2:1) at 25°C for 20 days. Healthy plants of P. barbatus cv. Nano Rondo, 6 months old, were grown in 3-liter pots (one plant per pot) using a steam disinfested substrate (peat/pomix/pine bark/clay 5:2:2:1) in which 200 g of kernels per liter of substrate were mixed. Noninoculated plants served as control treatments. Three replicates were used. Plants were maintained at 15 to 20°C in a glasshouse. The first symptoms, similar to those observed in the gardens, developed 21 days after inoculation, and P. citrophthora was consistently reisolated from infected plants. Noninoculated plants remained healthy. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice with similar results. A nonspecified root and crown rot of Penstemon spp. has been reported in the United States. (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. citrophthora on P. barbatus in Italy as well as in Europe. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997 (2) F. E. Brooks and D. M. Ferrin. Plant Dis. 79:212, 1995. (3) D. E. L. Cooke and J. M. Duncan. Mycol. Res. 101:667, 1997. (4) H. Masago et al. Phytopathology 67:425, 1977.

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First Report of Postharvest Fruit Rot in Persimmon Caused by Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-94-6-0788b ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (6) ◽

pp. 788-788 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

M. T. Amatulli ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Its Region ◽

The United States ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Diospyros Kaki ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Conidial Suspension ◽

First Report ◽

Pathogenicity Tests ◽

Phacidiopycnis Washingtonensis

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) is widely grown in Italy, the leading producer in Europe. In the fall of 2009, a previously unknown rot was observed on 3% of fruit stored at temperatures between 5 and 15°C in Torino Province (northern Italy). The decayed area was elliptical, firm, and appeared light brown to dark olive-green. It was surrounded by a soft margin. The internal decayed area appeared rotten, brown, and surrounded by bleached tissue. On the decayed tissue, black pycnidia that were partially immersed and up to 0.5 mm in diameter were observed. Light gray conidia produced in the pycnidia were unicellular, ovoid or lacriform, and measured 3.9 to 6.7 × 2.3 to 3.5 (average 5.0 × 2.9) μm. Fragments (approximately 2 mm) were taken from the margin of the internal diseased tissues, cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at temperatures between 23 and 26°C under alternating light and darkness. Colonies of the fungus initially appeared ash colored and then turned to dark greenish gray. After 14 days of growth, pycnidia and conidia similar to those described on fruit were produced. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLAST analysis (1) of the 502-bp segment showed a 100% similarity with the sequence of Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis Xiao & J.D. Rogers (GenBank Accession No. AY608648). The nucleotide sequence has been assigned the GenBank Accession No. GU949537. Pathogenicity tests were performed by inoculating three persimmon fruits after surface disinfesting in 1% sodium hypochlorite and wounding. Mycelial disks (10 mm in diameter), obtained from PDA cultures of one strain were placed on wounds. Three control fruits were inoculated with plain PDA. Fruits were incubated at 10 ± 1°C. The first symptoms developed 6 days after the artificial inoculation. After 15 days, the rot was very evident and P. washingtonensis was consistently reisolated. Noninoculated fruit remained healthy. The pathogenicity test was performed twice. Since P. washingtonensis was first identified in the United States on decayed apples (2), ‘Fuji’, ‘Gala’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Red Chief’, and ‘Stark Delicious’, apple fruits also were artificially inoculated with a conidial suspension (1 × 106 CFU/ml) of the pathogen obtained from PDA cultures. For each cultivar, three surface-disinfested fruit were wounded and inoculated, while three others served as mock-inoculated (sterile water) controls. Fruits were stored at temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C. First symptoms appeared after 7 days on all the inoculated apples. After 14 days, rot was evident on all fruit inoculated with the fungus, and P. washingtonensis was consistently reisolated. Controls remained symptomless. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of P. washingtonensis on persimmon in Italy, as well as worldwide. The occurrence of postharvest fruit rot on apple caused by P. washingtonensis was recently described in the United States (3). In Italy, the economic importance of the disease on persimmon fruit is currently limited, although the pathogen could represent a risk for apple. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) Y. K. Kim and C. L. Xiao. Plant Dis. 90:1376, 2006. (3) C. L. Xiao et al. Mycologia 97:473, 2005.

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First Report of Stem Rot on Cereus peruvianus monstruosus Caused by Bipolaris cactivora (Petr.) Alcorn in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-06-13-0614-pdn ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 98 (1) ◽

pp. 159-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

P. Pensa ◽

A. Poli ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Its Region ◽

The United States ◽

Stem Rot ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

First Report ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Blastn Analysis ◽

Dark Green

Cereus peruvianus monstruosus, known as “monster cactus,” family Cactaceae, is grown as a potted plant. In the winter of 2013, a stem rot was observed on a farm located near Ventimiglia (northern Italy) on 80% of 4,000 9-month-old plants grown in trays in a peat substrate. Symptoms consisted of a rapid rot of the upper portion of the stem. Affected stems at first showed yellowish spots that became brown irregular necrotic lesions with well-defined margins. The tissues below the affected areas were blackened and dry but became soft in the presence of high relative humidity. Fungal sporulation on rotted tissues consisted of caespitose, non-branched, septate conidiophores, olivaceous to brown at the base, paler above, measuring 89.0 to 196.9 × 6.2 to 8.7 (average 124.8 × 7.0) μm. Single conidia were borne on terminal cells. At maturity, conidia with 2 to 5 (average 3) septa were brownish-olivaceous, varying in shape from obclavate, fusiform, ellipsoid or sometimes furcate, and measuring 23.4 to 48.6 × 8.0 to 12.6 (average 38.8 × 10.3) μm. Symptomatic tissues were immersed in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 to 3 s and rinsed in sterile distilled water, then fragments excised from the margin of internal lesions were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium amended with 25 mg/l of streptomycin sulfate and incubated at 20 to 23°C under alternating daylight and darkness (10 h light, 14 h dark). A fungus that was consistently isolated was subcultured on PDA. At maturity, dark green floccose colonies comprised of light brown septate hyphae, 4.2 to 8.1 (average 5.6) μm in width, produced non-branched, pale to dark brown, septate conidiophores, measuring 99.6 to 176.1 × 4.5 to 6.5 (average 146.7 × 5.4) μm. The conidia produced on PDA were similar to those observed on infected tissues and measured 20.6 to 40.7 × 7.5 to 11.4 (average 32.0 × 9.7) μm, with 1 to 3 septa (average 2). On the basis of the morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as Bipolaris cactivora (Petr.) Alcorn [Syn.: Drechslera cactivora (Petr.) M. B. Ellis] (4). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was amplified for one isolate using ITS1/ITS4 primers and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KF041822). BLASTn analysis (1) of the 557-bp segment showed a 99% similarity with the ITS sequence of Bipolaris cactivora HM598679. For pathogenicity tests, 8 mm diameter mycelial disks removed from 15-day-old PDA cultures of the fungus were placed at the wounded stem apexes of three 7-month-old healthy plants (three disks per plant). Three plants inoculated with non-inoculated PDA disks served as controls. Plants were covered with plastic bags and maintained in a growth chamber at 23 ± 1°C with 12 h light/dark. By 8 days after inoculation, all the inoculated stems were rotted and 10 colonies of B. cactivora were re-isolated from infected tissues. Control plants remained healthy. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice with similar results. Several hosts are listed for B. cactivora including C. peruvianus, and the pathogen has been reported in the United States (2) and in South Korea (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. cactivora on C. peruvianus monstruosus in Italy. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. APS Press, St Paul, MN, 1989. (3) I. H. Hyun et al. Res. Plant Dis. 7:56, 2001. (4) A. Sivanesan. Mycopathologia 111:125, 1990.

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First Report of Fruit Rot in Pear Caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-02-12-0130-pdn ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 96 (6) ◽

pp. 910-910 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

A. Poli ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Its Region ◽

The United States ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Botryosphaeria Dothidea ◽

First Report ◽

Irregular Margin ◽

Pyrus Communis L ◽

Pathogenicity Tests

Pear (Pyrus communis L.) is widely grown in Italy, the leading producer in Europe. In summer 2011, a previously unknown rot was observed on fruit of an old cultivar, Spadoncina, in a garden in Torino Province (northern Italy). The decayed area of the fruit was soft, dark brown, slightly sunken, circular, and surrounded by an irregular margin. The internal decayed area appeared rotten and brown and rotted fruit eventually fell. To isolate the causal agent, fruits were soaked in 1% NaOCl for 30 s and fragments (approximately 2 mm) were taken from the margin of the internal diseased tissues, cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at temperatures between 20 and 28°C under alternating light and darkness. Colonies of the fungus initially appeared whitish, then turned dark gray. After about 30 days of growth, unicellular elliptical hyaline conidia were produced in pycnidia. Conidia measured 16 to 24 × 5 to 7 (average 20.1 × 5.7) μm (n = 50). The morphological characteristics are similar to those of the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug.: Fr.) Ces. & De Not. (4). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. BLAST analysis (1) of the 473-bp segment showed a 100% similarity with the sequence of the epitype of B. dothidea AY236949. The nucleotide sequence has been assigned the GenBank Accession No. JQ418493. Pathogenicity tests were performed by inoculating six pear fruits of the same cultivar (Spadoncina) after surface disinfesting in 1% sodium hypochlorite and wounding. Mycelial disks (8 mm diameter), obtained from 10-day-old PDA cultures of one strain, were placed on wounds. Six control fruits were inoculated with plain PDA. Fruits were incubated at 25 ± 1°C in plastic boxes. The first symptoms developed 3 days after inoculation. After 5 days, the rot was very evident and B. dothidea was consistently reisolated. Noninoculated fruits remained healthy. The pathogenicity test was performed twice. B. dothidea was identified on decayed pears in the United States (2), South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of B. dothidea on pear in Italy, as well as in Europe. In Italy, the economic importance of the disease on pear fruit is at present limited, although the pathogen could represent a risk for this crop. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389, 1997. (2) L. F. Grand. Agr. Res. Serv. Techn. Bull. 240:1, 1985. (3) Y. Ko et al. Plant Prot. Bull. (Taiwan) 35:211, 1993. (4) B. Slippers et al. Mycologia 96:83, 2004.

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First Report of Leaf Spot of Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Caused by a Phoma sp. in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-94-6-0788a ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (6) ◽

pp. 788-788

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

M. T. Amatulli ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Leaf Spot ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Its Region ◽

The United States ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

First Report ◽

Humidity Chamber ◽

Pathogenicity Tests ◽

Symptomatic Tissue ◽

White Mycelium

Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower) is an herbaceous species (Asteraceae) grown in full sun in flower beds and borders in gardens. In the summer of 2009, a previously unknown leaf spot was observed on R. fulgida plants in three private gardens located near Biella (northern Italy). Leaves of infected plants showed extensive and irregular, dark brown, necrotic lesions that were slightly sunken with a well-defined border. Lesions initially ranged from 0.5 to 3 mm in diameter and eventually coalesced to cover the entire leaf, which curled without falling. At a later stage, stems were also affected, causing death of the plant. The disease affected 90% of plants. Dark brown pycnidia, 68 to 195 × 60 to 165 (average 135 × 117) μm in diameter, containing hyaline (light gray in mass), and ellipsoid, nonseptate conidia measuring 4.0 to 7.0 × 2.4 to 3.5 (average 5.4 × 3.0) μm were observed on symptomatic tissue. On the basis of these morphological characteristics, the fungus was related to the genus Phoma. Diseased tissue was excised from the margin of lesions, immersed in a solution containing 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 to 3 s, rinsed in sterile distilled water, and then cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Fungal colonies initially produced a white mycelium that became greenish gray when incubated at temperatures ranging between 22 and 25°C under alternating daylight and darkness (13 h of light and 11 h of dark). After 14 days of incubation, unicellular, cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped, light brown chlamydospores measuring 6 to 12 μm in diameter developed in long chains. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLAST analysis (1) of the 498-bp segment showed 100% homology with a sequence of a Phoma sp. (EF585395). The nucleotide sequence of our isolate was assigned GenBank Accession No. GU573979. Pathogenicity tests were performed by placing 100 ml of a water homogenate of mycelium (1 × 105 mycelial fragments/ml) obtained from 15-day-old PDA cultures of the fungus on leaves of three healthy 4-month-old potted R. fulgida plants. Three plants inoculated with a homogenate of PDA served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse, in a high humidity chamber for 7 days after inoculation, at temperatures ranging from 18 to 22°C and under high relative humidity conditions (70 to 90%). The first foliar lesions developed on leaves 7 days after inoculation, and after 10 to 12 days, 80% of leaves were severely infected. Control plants remained healthy. The organism reisolated on PDA from leaf lesions was identical in morphology to the isolate used for inoculation. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of a Phoma sp. on R. fulgida in Italy. Mycosphaerella ligulicola was reported on Rudbeckia sp. (2), while M. rudbeckiae and Phoma exigua have been reported on R. hirta (3). Currently, the economic importance of this disease is limited, but may become a more significant problem if the cultivation of this species increases. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) C. G. C. Chesters and J. P. Blakeman. Ann. Appl. Biol. 60:385, 1967. (3) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989.

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First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera fusca on Coreopsis lanceolata in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-91-9-1203c ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 91 (9) ◽

pp. 1203-1203 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Powdery Mildew ◽

Its Region ◽

The United States ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

First Report ◽

Erysiphe Cichoracearum ◽

Blastn Analysis ◽

Voucher Specimens ◽

Sphaerotheca Macularis ◽

Podosphaera Fusca

Coreopsis lanceolata L. (Asteraceae) is an ornamental species grown in parks and gardens and very much appreciated for its long-lasting flowering period. During the summer and fall of 2006, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown powdery mildew were observed on plants in several gardens near Biella (northern Italy). Both surfaces of leaves of the affected plants were covered with dense white mycelia and conidia. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and died. Mycelia and conidia also were observed on stems and flower calyxes. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid, borne in short chains (5 to 6 conidia per chain) and measured 33 × 20 (27 to 35 × 17 to 22) μm. Conidiophores, 68 × 11 (62 to 76 × 10 to 12) μm, showed the foot cell measuring 50 × 11 (38 to 58 × 10 to 12) μm, followed by one shorter cell measuring 18 × 12 (13 to 19 × 12 to 13) μm. Fibrosin bodies were present. Chasmothecia were spherical and amber with a diameter of 99 (93 to 105) μm. Each chasmothecium contained one ascus with eight ascospores. On the basis of its morphology, the causal agent was determined to be a Podosphaera sp. (1). The ITS region (internal transcribed spacer) of rDNA was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 531 bp obtained showed an E-value of 0.0 with Podosphaera fusca (3). The nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. EF 442023. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculations by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of healthy C. lanceolata plants. Three plants were inoculated. Three noninoculated plants served as the control. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at temperatures ranging from 20 to 28°C. Twelve days after inoculation, typical symptoms of powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew on C. lanceolata in Italy. Species of Coreopsis were previously described as host to Erysiphe cichoracearum, Sphaerotheca macularis and Leveillula taurica and S. fusca (2,4). Voucher specimens are available at the AGROINNOVA Collection, University of Torino. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) U. Braun. A Monograph of the Erysiphaceae (Powdery Mildews). Cramer, Berlin, GDR, 1987. (3) U. Braun and S. Takamatsu. Schlechtendalia 4:1, 2000 (4) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society. St Paul, MN, 1989.

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First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum on Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-92-6-0975b ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 92 (6) ◽

pp. 975-975 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

S. Frati ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Its Region ◽

The United States ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Public Park ◽

First Report ◽

Golovinomyces Cichoracearum ◽

Blastn Analysis

Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower), a flowering plant belonging to the Asteraceae, is increasingly used as a border in parks and gardens. In September 2007, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown powdery mildew were observed on plants in a public park in Torino (northern Italy). More than 90% of the plants were affected by the disease. Both surfaces of leaves of affected plants were covered with white mycelia and conidia. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and wilted. Mycelia and conidia also were observed on stems and flower calyxes. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid, borne in chains (as many as three to four conidia per chain) and measured 34 × 23 (30 to 39 × 21 to 25) μm. Conidiophores measured 129 × 12 (89 to 181 × 11 to 13) μm and showed a foot cell measuring 88 × 12 (48 to 129 × 11 to 13) μm followed by two shorter cells. Fibrosin bodies were absent. Chasmothecia were not observed in the collected samples. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 619 bp showed a 100% homology with the sequence of Golovinomyces cichoracearum (3). The nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. EU 233820. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculations by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of healthy R. fulgida plants. Twenty plants were inoculated. Fifteen noninoculated plants served as the control. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at temperatures ranging from 18 to 22°C. Eight days after inoculation, typical symptoms of powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants. The fungus observed on inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew on R. fulgida in Italy. Powdery mildew on Rudbeckia spp. was previously reported in the United States (4), Poland, and more recently, India and Switzerland. Particularly, in Switzerland the disease has been observed on R. laciniata and R. nitida (2). The economic importance of this disease is currently limited. Voucher specimens are available at the AGROINNOVA Collection, University of Torino. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) A. Bolay. Cryptogam. Helv. 20:1, 2005. (3) U. Braun and S. Takamatsu. Schlechtendalia 4:1, 2000. (4) D. F. Farr et al. Page 82 in: Fungi on Plants and Plants Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St Paul, MN, 1989.

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First Report of Rhizoctonia solani AG 4 on Lamb's Lettuce in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-1109c ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (8) ◽

pp. 1109-1109 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

G. Gilardi ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Rhizoctonia Solani ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Crown Rot ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

First Report ◽

Pathogenicity Tests ◽

Hyphal Diameter ◽

Wheat Kernels ◽

Extensive Necrosis

Lamb's lettuce or corn salad (Valerianella olitoria) is increasingly grown in Italy and used primarily in the preparation of mixed processed salad. In the fall of 2005, plants of lamb's lettuce, cv Trophy, exhibiting a basal rot were observed in some commercial greenhouses near Bergamo in northern Italy. The crown of diseased plants showed extensive necrosis, progressing to the basal leaves, with plants eventually dying. The first symptoms, consisting of water-soaked zonate lesions on basal leaves, were observed on 30-day-old plants during the month of October when temperatures ranged between 15 and 22°C. Disease was uniformly distributed in the greenhouses, progressed rapidly in circles, and 50% of the plants were affected. Diseased tissue was disinfested for 1 min in 1% NaOCl and plated on potato dextrose agar amended with 100 μg/liter of streptomycin sulfate. A fungus with the morphological characteristics of Rhizoctonia solani was consistently and readily isolated and maintained in pure culture after single-hyphal tipping (3). The five isolates of R. solani, obtained from affected plants successfully anastomosed with tester isolate AG 4, no. RT 31, received from R. Nicoletti of the Istituto Sperimentale per il Tabacco, Scafati, Italy (2). The hyphal diameter at the point of anastomosis was reduced, and cell death of adjacent cells occurred (1). Pairings were also made with AG 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 with no anastomoses observed between the five isolates and testers. For pathogenicity tests, the inoculum of R. solani (no. Rh. Vale 1) was grown on autoclaved wheat kernels at 25°C for 10 days. Plants of cv. Trophy were grown in 10-liter containers (20 × 50 cm, 15 plants per container) on a steam disinfested substrate (equal volume of peat and sand). Inoculations were made on 20-day-old plants by placing 2 g of infected wheat kernels at each corner of the container with 3 cm as the distance to the nearest plant. Plants inoculated with clean wheat kernels served as controls. Three replicates (containers) were used. Plants were maintained at 25°C in a growth chamber programmed for 12 h of irradiation at a relative humidity of 80%. The first symptoms, consisting of water-soaked lesions on the basal leaves, developed 5 days after inoculation with crown rot and plant kill in 2 weeks. Control plants remained healthy. R. solani was consistently reisolated from infected plants. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice with similar results. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of R. solani on lamb's lettuce in Italy as well as worldwide. The isolates were deposited at the AGROINNOVA fungal collection. The disease continues to spread in other greenhouses in northern Italy. References: (1) D. Carling. Rhizoctonia Species: Pages 37–47 in: Taxonomy, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Pathology and Disease Control. B. Sneh et al., eds. Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands, 1996. (2) J. Parmeter et al. Phytopathology, 59:1270, 1969. (3) B. Sneh et al. Identification of Rhizoctonia Species. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996.

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First Report of Leaf Spot and Root Rot Caused by Phoma betae on Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Garden Beet Group) in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-91-11-1515c ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 91 (11) ◽

pp. 1515-1515 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

G. Gilardi ◽

D. Bertetti ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Beta Vulgaris ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Its Region ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Blastn Analysis ◽

Commercial Farms ◽

Pathogenicity Tests ◽

Phoma Betae

In the winter of 2007 in Piedmont (northern Italy), symptoms of a previously unknown disease were observed on beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) (garden beet group) grown under a tunnel on several commercial farms near Cuneo. First symptoms appeared on 1-month-old plants, occurring as brown, round-to-oval spots as much as 2 cm in diameter with dark concentric rings near the perimeter. Small, dark pycnidia were present throughout the spots in concentric rings. Generally, older, lower leaves were affected more than the younger ones. Ten to fifteen percent of the plants were affected. Symptoms on the roots began near the crown as small, dark, sunken spots that became soft and water soaked. Eventually, spots on the roots turned dark brown to black and black lines separated diseased and healthy tissues. Older infected tissues were black, dry, shrunken, and spongy. Pycnidia were not observed on affected roots. From infected leaves and roots, a fungus was consistently isolated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 25 mg/l of streptomycin. The fungus was grown on PDA and maintained at 22°C (12 h of light, 12 h of dark). After 10 days, black pycnidia (130 to 328 [204] μm in diameter) developed, releasing abundant hyaline, elliptical, nonseptate conidia measuring 3.9 to 6.7 (5.1) × 2.4 to 5.9 (3.6) μm. On the basis of its morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as a Phoma sp. (1). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS6 (2) and sequenced. BLASTn analysis of the 557 bp obtained showed an E-value of 0.0 with Phoma betae. The nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. EU003450. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying leaves of healthy 20-day-old potted B. vulgaris plants with a spore and mycelial suspension (1 × 106 spores or mycelial fragments per ml). Noninoculated plants sprayed only with water served as controls. Fifteen plants (three per pot) were used for each treatment. Plants were covered with plastic bags for 5 days after inoculation and kept in a growth chamber at 20°C. Symptoms previously described developed on leaves of all inoculated plants 5 days after inoculation, while control plants remained healthy. Later, pycnidia and conidia, with the same dimensions and characteristics previously described, were observed on the infected leaves. The fungus was consistently reisolated from the lesions of the inoculated plants. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. P. betae on B. vulgaris var. cycla has been reported in Canada (3) as well as in other countries. The same pathogen was reported in Italy on sugar beet (2). References: (1) G. H. Boerema and G. J. Bollen. Persoonia 8:111, 1975. (2) A. Canova. Inf. Fitopatol. 16:207, 1966. (3) D. E L. Cooke and J. M. Duncan. Mycol. Res. 101:667, 1997. (4) J. R. Howard et al. Diseases of Vegetable Crops in Canada. Canadian Phytopathological Society, 1994.

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First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera xanthii on Calendula officinalis in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-92-1-0174c ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 174-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

G. Gilardi ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Powdery Mildew ◽

Its Region ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Podosphaera Xanthii ◽

Calendula Officinalis ◽

First Report ◽

Potted Plants ◽

Blastn Analysis ◽

Voucher Specimens ◽

Pot Marigold

Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) (pot marigold or English marigold) is an ornamental species grown in gardens and as potted plants for the production of cut flower. It was also used in ancient Greek, Roman, Arabic, and Indian cultures as a medicinal herb as well as a dye for fabrics, foods, and cosmetics. During the summer of 2007, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown powdery mildew were observed on plants in several gardens near Biella (northern Italy). Both surfaces of leaves of infected plants were covered with dense, white mycelia and conidia. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and died. Mycelia and conidia also were observed on stems and flower calyxes. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid, born in short chains (four to six conidia per chain), and measured 27.0 to 32.1 (31.4) × 12.9 to 18.4 (18.2) μm. Conidiophores measured 49 to 77.3 (67.2) × 8 to 13.3 (10.8) μm and showed a foot cell measuring 44 to 59 (51.9) × 9.3 to 12.6 (11.3) μm followed by one shorter cell measuring 15.6 to 18.9 (17.6) × 10.4 to 13.6 (12.2) μm. Fibrosin bodies were present. Chasmothecia were spherical, amber colored, with a diameter of 89 to 100 (94.5) μm. Each chasmothecium contained one ascus with eight ascospores. On the basis of its morphology, the causal agent was determined to be a Podosphaera sp. (2). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 588 bp showed a 100% homology with the sequence of Podosphaera xanthii (2). The nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. EU100973. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculations by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of healthy C. officinalis plants. Five plants were inoculated. Five noninoculated plants served as control. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at temperatures ranging from 20 to 26°C. Eleven days after inoculation, typical symptoms of powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew on C. officinalis in Italy. C. officinalis was previously described as a host to Sphaerotheca fuliginea (synonym S. fusca) in Great Britain (4) as well as in Romania (3). Voucher specimens are available at the AGROINNOVA Collection, University of Torino. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) U. Braun and S. Takamatsu. Schlechtendalia 4:1, 2000. (3) E. Eliade. Rev. Appl. Mycol. 39:710, 1960. (4) F. J. Moore. Rev. Appl. Mycol. 32:380, 1953.

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First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum on English Daisy (Bellis perennis) in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-92-3-0484a ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 484-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Garibaldi ◽

A. Minuto ◽

M. L. Gullino

Keyword(s):

Powdery Mildew ◽

Its Region ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

First Report ◽

Golovinomyces Cichoracearum ◽

Blastn Analysis ◽

Commercial Farms ◽

Voucher Specimens

Bellis perennis (English daisy) is a flowering plant belonging to the Asteraceae and is increasingly grown as a potted plant in Liguria (northern Italy). In February 2007, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown powdery mildew were observed on plants in commercial farms at Albenga (northern Italy). Both surfaces of leaves of affected plants were covered with white mycelia and conidia. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow. Mycelia and conidia also were observed on stems and flower calyxes. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid, borne in chains (as many as three conidia per chain), and measured 27.7 × 16.9 (15.0 to 45.0 × 10.0 to 30.0) μm. Conidiophores measured 114.0 × 12.0 (109.0 to 117.0 × 11.0 to 13.0) μm and showed a foot cell measuring 78.0 × 11.0 (72.0 to 80.0 × 11.0 to 12.0) μm followed by two shorter cells. Fibrosin bodies were absent. Chasmothecia were not observed in the collected samples. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using primers ITS4/ITS6 and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 415 bp obtained showed an E-value of 7e–155 with Golovinomyces cichoracearum (3). The nucleotide sequence has been assigned the GenBank Accession No. AB077627.1 Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculations by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of healthy B. perennis plants. Twenty plants were inoculated. Fifteen noninoculated plants served as a control. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at temperatures ranging from 10 to 30°C. Seven days after inoculation, typical symptoms of powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants. The fungus observed on inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew on B. perennis in Italy. The disease was already reported in other European countries (2). Voucher specimens are available at the AGROINNOVA Collection, University of Torino. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) U. Braun The Powdery Mildews (Erysiphales) of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, Germany, 1995. (3) U. Braun and S. Takamatsu. Schlechtendalia 4:1, 2000.

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