scholarly journals Four Phytophthora Species Causing Foot and Root Rot of Apricot in Italy

Plant Disease ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 844-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pane ◽  
S. O. Cacciola ◽  
S. Scibetta ◽  
G. Bentivenga ◽  
G. Magnano di San Lio
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Phytophthora Nicotianae ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Optimum Growth ◽  
Phytophthora Spp ◽  
Leaf Chlorosis ◽  
Breadth Ratio ◽  
Root And Crown Rot ◽  
Fourth Species

In the summer of 2006, 1-year-old apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) trees with leaf chlorosis, wilting, and defoliation associated with root and crown rot were observed in a nursery in Sicily (Italy). Of 3,000 plants, ~2% was affected. Four Phytophthora spp. (45, 25, 20, and 10% of the isolations of the first, second, third, and fourth species, respectively) were isolated from decayed roots and trunk bark on BNPRAH (3). Axenic cultures were obtained by single-hypha transfers. Isolates of the first species formed petaloid colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and had an optimum growth temperature of 25°C. On V8 agar (VA), they produced persistent, papillate (often bipapillate), ovoid to limoniform sporangia (length/breadth ratio 1.4:1). They did not produce gametangia when paired with A1 and A2 isolates of Phytophthora nicotianae. The second species formed arachnoid colonies, had an optimum growth of 30°C, and produced uni- and bipapillate, ellipsoid, ovoid or pyriform sporangia (length/breadth ratio 1.3:1). All isolates were A2. The third species formed rosaceous colonies on PDA, had an optimum temperature of 28 to 30°C, and produced papillate (sometime bipapillate), ellipsoid or limoniform (length/breadth ratio 2:1), caducous sporangia with a tapered base and a long pedicel (as much as 150 μm). All isolates were A1 type. The fourth species formed petaloid-like colonies on PDA and had an optimum growth of 26 to 28°C. On VA, it produced papillate (sometimes bipapillate), ovoid (length/breadth ratio 1.3:1), and decidous sporangia with a short pedicel (<4 μm). The isolates were homothallic and produced oogonia (25 to 31 μm in diameter) with paragynous antheridia and aplerotic oospores. On the basis of morphological and cultural characters, the species were identified as P. citrophthora, P. nicotianae, P. tropicalis and P. cactorum. Identification was confirmed by the electrophoretic analysis of total mycelial proteins and four isozymes (acid and alkaline phosphatases, esterase, and malate dehydrogenase) on polyacrylamide gel (1). Analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA using the ITS 4 and ITS 6 primers for DNA amplification (2) revealed 99 to 100% similarity between apricot isolates of each species and reference isolates from GenBank (Nos. AF266785, AB367355, DQ118649, and AF266772). The ITS sequence of a P. citrophthora isolate from apricot (IMI 396200) was deposited in GenBank (No. FJ943417). In the summer of 2008, pathogenicity of apricot isolates IMI 396200 (P. citrophthora), IMI 396203 (P. nicotianae), IMI 396201 (P. tropicalis), and IMI 396202 (P. cactorum) was tested on 3-month-old apricot seedlings (10 plants for each isolate) that were transplanted into pots filled with soil prepared by mixing steam-sterilized sandy loam soil (4% vol/vol) with inoculum produced on autoclaved kernel seeds. Ten control seedlings were grown in autoclaved soil. Seedlings were maintained in a screenhouse and watered daily to field capacity. Within 40 days of the transplant, all inoculated seedlings showed leaf chlorosis, wilting, and root rot. Control seedlings remained healthy. All four Phytophthora spp. were reisolated solely from inoculated plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Phytophthora root and crown rot of apricot in Italy and of P. tropicalis on this host. References: (1) S. O. Cacciola et al. Plant Dis. 90:680, 2006. (2) D. E. L. Cooke et al. Fungal Genet. Biol. 30:17, 2000. (3) H. Masago et al. Phytopathology 67:425, 1977.

scholarly journals First Report of Phytophthora spp. as Pathogens of Pandorea jasminoides in Italy

Plant Disease ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pane ◽  
S. O. Cacciola ◽  
A. Chimento ◽  
C. Allatta ◽  
S. Scibetta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Temperature ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Selective Medium ◽  
Phytophthora Nicotianae ◽  
Optimum Growth ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
First Report ◽  
Optimum Growth Temperature ◽  
Phytophthora Spp

In the summer of 2005, approximately 5% of a nursery stock of 12-month-old potted plants of bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides (Lindl.) K. Schum.) in Sicily (Italy) showed wilt, leaf chlorosis, defoliation, root rot, and collapse of the entire plant. Three Phytophthora spp. (20, 50, and 30% of the isolations of the first, second, and third species, respectively) were isolated from rotted roots on BNPRAH selective medium (2). Single-hypha isolates of the first species formed petaloid colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and had an optimum growth temperature of 25°C (9.3 mm/day); on V8 juice agar, they produced uni- and bipapillate, ovoid to limoniform sporangia with mean dimensions of 45 × 30 μm and a mean length/width (l/w) ratio of 1.4:1. They did not produce gametangia when paired with A1 and A2 isolates of Phytophthora nicotianae. The second species formed arachnoides colonies on PDA, had an optimum growth temperature of 30°C (6.9 mm/day) and produced sporangia that were uni- and bipapillate, ellipsoid, ovoid, or pyriform to spherical (dimensions 44 × 34 μm; l/w ratio 1.3:1). All isolates were A2 mating type and produced amphyginous antheridia and spherical oogonia with smooth walls. The third species formed rosaceous colonies on PDA, had an optimum growth temperature of 28 to 30°C (11.9 mm/day), and produced uni- and bipapillate, ellipsoid or limoniform, caducous sporangia (dimensions 52 × 26 μm; l/w ratio 2.1:1) with a tapered base and a long pedicel (as much as 150 μm). All isolates were A1 type and produced amphigynous antheridia and spherical oogonia with smooth walls. The three species were identified as P. citrophthora, P. nicotianae, and P. tropicalis, respectively. The electrophoretic analysis of the mycelial proteins and four isozymes (1) confirmed the identification. Blast analysis of the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA of a P. tropicalis isolate from bower vine (GenBank Accession No. EU076731) showed 99% similarity with the sequence of a P. tropicalis isolate from Cuphea ignea (GenBank Accession No. DQ118649). The pathogenicity of three isolates from bower vine, IMI 395552 (P. citrophthora), IMI 395553 (P. nicotianae), and IMI 395346 (P. tropicalis), was tested on 3-month-old potted bower vine plants (10 plants for each isolate) by applying 10 ml of a suspension (2 × 104 zoospores/ml) to the root crown. The plants were maintained at 24°C and 95 to 100% relative humidity. All inoculated plants wilted after 4 weeks. Noninoculated control plants remained healthy. The three Phytophthora spp. were reisolated from symptomatic plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Phytophthora root rot of bower vine in Italy. References: (1) S. O. Cacciola et al. Plant Dis. 90:680, 2006. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996.

scholarly journals Genetic Determinants of Wheat Resistance to Common Root Rot (Spot Blotch), Fusarium Crown Rot, and Sharp Eyespot

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Su ◽  
Jiaojie Zhao ◽  
Shuqing Zhao ◽  
Mengyu Li ◽  
Xiaofeng Shang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Spot Blotch ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Common Root ◽  
Fusarium Crown Rot ◽  
Common Root Rot ◽  
Sharp Eyespot ◽  
Root And Crown Rot ◽  
Moderate Resistance

Due to the field soil changes, high density planting, and straw-returning methods, wheat common root rot (spot blotch), Fusarium crown rot (FCR), and sharp eyespot have become severe threatens to global wheat productions. Only a few wheat genotypes show moderate resistance to these root and crown rot fungal diseases, and the genetic determinants of wheat resistance to these devastating diseases have been poorly understood. This review summarizes the recent progress of genetic studies on wheat resistance to common root rot, Fusarium crown rot, and sharp eyespot. Wheat germplasms with relative higher resistance are highlighted and genetic loci controlling the resistance to each of the disease are summarized.

scholarly journals Root and Basal Stem Rot of Rose Caused by Phytophthora citrophthora in Italy

Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Salamone ◽  
G. Scarito ◽  
A. Pane ◽  
S. O. Cacciola
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Phytophthora Species ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Stem Rot ◽  
Peat Moss ◽  
Phytophthora Citrophthora ◽  
Basal Stem Rot ◽  
Leaf Chlorosis ◽  
Western Sicily

Approximately 800 ha of cut flower roses are cultivated for commercial production in Italy. During autumn of 2004 in an experimental greenhouse in western Sicily (southern Italy), 60% of 2-year-old plants of rose cv. Red France on Rosa indica cv. Major rootstock grown in soil showed leaf chlorosis and wilt. A dark brown lesion lined by a water-soaked area was noticeable at the stem base near the soil surface. Root rot was found consistently associated with aboveground symptoms and plants collapsed within 4 months after the appearance of the first symptoms. The same symptoms were observed sporadically on rose plants of the same cultivar during the last 6 years in commercial nurseries in western Sicily. In all cases, a Phytophthora species has been consistently isolated from rotted roots and stems on Phytophthora-selective media. Pure cultures were obtained by single-hypha transfers. The species was identified as Phytophthora citrophthora on the basis of morphological characters and electrophoretic analysis of mycelial proteins on polyacrylamide gel (1). On potato dextrose agar, isolates produced petaloid colonies with optimum growth temperature at 25°C. On V8 agar, mono- and occasionally bipapillate, ovoid to limoniform sporangia, measuring 44 to 55 × 27 to 28 μm, with a mean length/breadth ratio of 1.4:1 were produced. All isolates were heterothallic but did not produce gametangia in dual cultures with P. nicotianae isolates of A1 and A2 mating type. Electrophoretic patterns of total mycelial proteins and four isozyme (acid and alkaline phosphatases, esterase, and malato dehydrogenase) of the isolates from rose were identical to those of reference isolates of P. citrophthora, but clearly distinct from isolates of other heterothallic species with papillate sporangia, including P. capsici, P. nicotianae, P. palmivora, and P. tropicalis. All isolates from rose showed the same electrophoretic profiles. Blast search of rDNA-ITS sequence from PCR-amplified ITS4/ITS6 primers (2) of a representative isolate from rose (IMI 392044) showed 98% homology with a reference isolate of P. citrophthora (GenBank No. EU0000631), thus confirming the identification. Pathogenicity of isolate IMI 392044 was tested on 10 12-month-old plants of rose cv. Red France grafted on R. indica cv. Major transplanted in pots containing a mixture of sphagnum peat moss and sandy loam soil (1:1 vol/vol) infested with 80 g of inoculum per liter of mixture. Inoculum was produced by growing the isolate on wheat kernels. Plants transplanted in pots containing noninfested soil served as controls. Plants were kept in a greenhouse at 22 ± 3°C and watered to soil saturation once a week. Inoculated plants developed symptoms of leaf chlorosis and root and crown rot within 15 to 30 days and wilted within 40 to 80 days after inoculation. Control plants remained healthy. P. citrophthora was consistently reisolated from inoculated plants. Root and basal stem rot of rose may be caused by several Phytophthora spp. and has been reported in various countries of Asia, Europe, and North America (3,4). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report in Italy. The occurrence of this disease may be attributed to excessive irrigation practices. References: (1) S. O. Cacciola et al. EPPO Bull. 20:47, 1990. (2) D. E. L. Cooke et al. Fungal Genet. Biol. 30:17, 2000. (3) Y. Nagai et al. Phytopathology 68:684, 1978. (4) B. W. Schwingle et al. Plant Dis. 91:97, 2007.

scholarly journals Pumpkin Fruit Rot in North Carolina Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae

Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 923-923
Author(s):  
G. J. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Soft Rot ◽  
Selective Medium ◽  
Phytophthora Nicotianae ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Fruit Rot ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Postharvest Diseases ◽  
Phytophthora Spp

In 1999, during an evaluation of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) fruit for susceptibility to naturally occurring postharvest diseases, a soft rot of unknown etiology was noted. No fungal growth or sporulation was seen on the fruit surface and no root or crown rot was observed in the field. When fruit were cross-sectioned, masses of white, floccose mycelium covering large sections of the seed cavity were observed. Rot was observed in 21 fruit (6.4% of the total). The fungus was isolated from symptomatic fruit on a modified P10ARPH agar medium, semi-selective for Phytophthora spp. (2). Isolates from eight fruit formed papillate, ovoid sporangia, abundant chlamydospores, and colonies characteristic of P. nicotianae (1). No oospores were produced. Four sound pumpkin fruit (cv. Early Autumn) were inoculated with four isolates (one isolate per fruit). Each isolate was recovered from a different fruit. Pumpkins were surface sterilized at the point of inoculation by wetting with 70% ethanol. Inoculation was done by removing a small amount of mycelium from pure culture using a sterile, wooden toothpick and inserting it 2 cm deep into opposite sides of the mid section of sound fruit (two inoculations per fruit). Control fruit were punctured with sterile toothpicks (once per fruit). First symptoms appeared 4 days after inoculation at room temperature (22 to 24°C). Symptoms consisted of circular, water-soaked areas originating from the point of inoculation. Average diameter (based on four measurements on two fruit) of the water-soaked lesions were 3 cm at first appearance (i.e., 4 days) and 11 cm 10 days after inoculation. No symptoms developed on controls. When symptomatic fruit were cross-sectioned, masses of white, floccose mycelium were noted. Reisolation of this mycelium onto selective medium yielded P. nicotianae, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first report of P. nicotianae causing fruit rot of pumpkins. References: (1) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. 1996. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. (2) H. D. Shew. Phytopathology 77:1090, 1987.

scholarly journals Soil Salinity Enhances Phytophthora Root Rot of Tomato but Hinders Asexual Reproduction by Phytophthora parasitic

1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.J. Swiecki ◽  
J.D. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽  
Asexual Reproduction ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Saline Soils ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Tomato Plants ◽  
Zoospore Release ◽  
Root Necrosis ◽  
Root And Crown Rot

Exposure of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) to salinity stress either before or after inoculation with Phytophthora parasitica increased root and crown rot severity relative to nonstressed controls. The synergy between salinity and P. parasitic was most pronounced on young (prebloom) plants and least pronounced on older (postbloom) plants. Salt stressed, inoculated plants had significantly reduced top weight, significantly more root necrosis, greater incidence of crown necrosis, and significantly greater mortality. Increased disease severity occurred even though experiments showed salinity reduced zoospore release arid motility of P. parasitic, suggesting that even low inoculum levels can result in severe root rot on young tomato plants in saline soils.

Phytophthora crown rot of almond trees

1986 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Wicks ◽  
TC Lee
Keyword(s):  
Mating Type ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Phytophthora Spp ◽  
Almond Trees ◽  
Almond Orchards ◽  
Poorly Drained Soils

Phytophthora cambivora, P. citrophthora, P. cryptogea, and P. megasperma were isolated from either crown cankers or the soil around the crown of declining almond trees in South Australia. Severe root rot and crown cankers developed on Chellaston almond seedlings grown in soil artificially infested with the A1 but not the A2 mating type of P. cambivora. Cankers on inoculated plants were similar to those on naturally infected plants. Cankers did not develop on almond seedlings grown in soil infested with either P. citrophthora, P. cryptogea or P. megasperma. Neither extensive root rotting nor crown cankers developed in apricot and peach seedlings grown in soil artificially infested with the A1 mating type of P. cambivora. Phytophthora spp. were detected in 44% of the soil samples collected near the crown of dead and declining trees from 26 commercial almond orchards. In a severely affected orchard up to 17% of mature trees were either dead, missing or in a serious state of decline. Naturally infected trees were frequently found in poorly drained soils and were often associated with dripper irrigation outlets placed close to the trunk.

scholarly journals Lethal Cankers Caused by Phytophthora spp. in Almond Scions: Specific Etiology and Potential Inoculum Sources

Plant Disease ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 739-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. Browne ◽  
M. A. Viveros
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Inoculum Sources ◽  
Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Phytophthora Spp ◽  
Almond Trees ◽  
Root And Crown Rot ◽  
Pathogenicity Tests ◽  
Significant Disease

Etiology of a new lethal canker syndrome of almond trees was investigated in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Phytophthora citricola was isolated most frequently from cankers limited to the aboveground scion portions of trees; whereas P. cactorum usually was isolated from cankers originating at or below the soil surface. Repeated observations and isolations indicated that some of the cankers associated with each species were perennial. In pathogenicity tests, isolates of P. cactorum and P. citricola caused bark cankers in excised segments of almond shoots and branches, as well as root and crown rot on potted almond seedlings. Only P. citricola caused significant disease in root and crown tissues of peach seedlings. When pear fruits and almond seedlings were used as bait, P. cactorum and P. citricola were isolated from orchard soil, debris collected in natural depressions where scaffold branches and the tree trunk joined at a common point, and debris deposited on tree surfaces during nut harvest. Control strategies for Phytophthora diseases of almond should consider aboveground as well as belowground modes of attack by P. citricola and P. cactorum. Debris infested with these pathogens and deposited on trees during harvest may play a role in the disease epidemiology.

scholarly journals Resistance to Phytophthora Species among Rootstocks for Cultivated Prunus Species

HortScience ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1471-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory T. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Species ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cactorum ◽  
Prunus Species ◽  
Phytophthora Megasperma ◽  
Soil Flooding ◽  
Root And Crown Rot ◽  
Crown And Root Rot ◽  
Multiple Species

Many species of Phytophthora de Bary are important pathogens of cultivated Prunus L. species worldwide, often invading the trees via their rootstocks. In a series of greenhouse trials, resistance to Phytophthora was tested in new and standard rootstocks for cultivated stone fruits, including almond. Successive sets of the rootstocks, propagated as hardwood cuttings or via micropropagation, were transplanted into either noninfested potting soil or potting soil infested with Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert & Cohn) J. Schöt., Phytophthora citricola Sawada, Phytophthora megasperma Drechs, or Phytophthora niederhauserii Z.G. Abad & J.A. Abad. Soil flooding was included in all trials to facilitate pathogen infection. In some trials, soil flooding treatments were varied to examine their effects on the rootstocks in both the absence and presence of Phytophthora. Two to 3 months after transplanting, resistance to the pathogens was assessed based on the severity of root and crown rot. ‘Hansen 536’ was consistently more susceptible than ‘Lovell’, ‘Nemaguard’, ‘Atlas’, ‘Viking’, ‘Citation’, and ‘Marianna 2624’ to root and/or crown rot caused by P. cactorum, P. citricola, and P. megasperma. By contrast, susceptibility to P. niederhauserii was similarly high among all eight tested genotypes of peach, four genotypes of peach × almond, two genotypes of (almond × peach) × peach, and one genotype of plum × almond. Most plum hybrids were highly and consistently resistant to crown rot caused by P. niederhauserii, but only ‘Marianna 2624’ was highly resistant to both crown and root rot caused by all of the Phytophthora species. The results indicate that there is a broad tendency for susceptibility of peach × almond rootstocks and a broad tendency for resistance of plum hybrid rootstocks to multiple species of Phytophthora.

scholarly journals First Report of Crown and Root Rot Caused by Pythium myriotylum on Hemp (Cannabis sativa) in Arizona

Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiahuai Hu
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Pathogenicity Test ◽  
Light Cycle ◽  
Pythium Myriotylum ◽  
First Report ◽  
Leaf Chlorosis ◽  
Query Coverage

During August and September 2020, symptoms of leaf chlorosis, stunting, and wilting were observed on indoor hemp plants (Cannabis sativa L. cv. ‘Wedding Cake’) in a commercial indoor facility located in Coolidge, Arizona. Plants were grown in soilless coconut coir growing medium (Worm Factory COIR250G10), watered with 1.5 to 2.1 liters every 24 h through drip irrigation, and supplemented with 18 h of lighting. About 35% of plants displayed symptoms as described above and many symptomatic plants collapsed. To identify the causal agent, crown and root tissues from four symptomatic plants were harvested and rinsed with tap water. Tissue fragments (approx. 2 to 4 mm in size) were excised from the margins of the stem and root lesions, surface sterilized in 0.6% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, rinsed well in sterile distilled water, blotted dry, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and on oomycete-selective clarified V8 media containing pimaricin, ampicillin, rifampicin, and pentachloronitrobenzene (PARP). Plates were incubated at room temperature (21-24 oC). Five isolates resembling Pythium were transferred after 3 days and maintained on clarified V8 media. Morphological characteristics were observed on grass blade cultures (Waterhouse 1967). Grass blades were placed on CV8 inoculated with the isolate. After a 1-day incubation at 25°C, the colonized blades were transferred to 8 ml of soil water extract in a Petri dish. Ten sporangia and oogonia were selected randomly and their diameters were measured under the microscope. Sporangia were mostly filamentous, undifferentiated or inflated lobulate, ranging from 7 to 17 µm in diameter. Knob-like appressoria were observed on branching clusters. Bulbous-like antheridia were formed on branched stalk with 1-8 antheridia per oogonium. Globose oogonia were terminal or intercalary and ranged from 21 to 33 µm in diameter. Globose oospores were mostly aplerotic and ranged from 15 to 21 μm in diameter. Based on these morphological characteristics, isolates were tentatively identified as Pythium myriotylum (Watanabe, 2002). Genomic DNA was extracted from mycelial mats of two isolates using DNeasy Plant Pro Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4 and two identical nucleotide sequences were obtained and deposited under accession number MW380925. A BLASTn search revealed ≥ 98% query coverage and 100% match with sequences HQ237488.1, KY019264.1, and KM434129, which were isolates of P. myriotylum from palm, tobacco, and ginger, respectively. To fulfill Koch’s postulates, pathogenicity tests were conducted with 2 isolates using plants of ‘Wedding Cake’ grown in 12 1.9-liter pots filled with a steam-disinfested potting mix (Sungro Professional Growing Mix). Pots were placed in a plastic container and watered to flooding three times a week. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse with 18 h/10 h day/night supplemental light cycle (15-28 oC). Plants were fertilized weekly with Peters Professional fertilizer at 1mg/ml. Four plants were inoculated with each isolate at three weeks after seed sowing by placing two 5-mm mycelial plugs from active growing 4 days-old cultures on PDA media adjacent to the main root mass at an approximately 3 cm depth. Four plants were inoculated with blank PDA plugs as controls. Symptoms of leaf chlorosis, crown rot and wilting were observed after four weeks while control plants remained symptomless. P. myriotylum was re-isolated from necrotic roots of inoculated plants after surface-sterilization, but not from control plants. The pathogenicity test was repeated once. While P. myriotylum often occurs in warmer regions and has a wide host range of >100 host plant species including numerous economically important crops (Wang et al., 2003), there are only two reports of this pathogen on indoor hemp plants in a greenhouse in Connecticut (McGehee et al., 2019) and in Canada (Punja et al., 2019). This is the first report of P. myriotylum causing root and crown rot of indoor hemp in Arizona. A more careful water management in soilless growth medium to reduce periods of saturation would minimize the risk of Pythium root rot in indoor hemp production.

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