Characterization and Pathogenicity of Phomopsis theicola Anamorph of Diaporthe foeniculina Causing Stem and Shoot Cankers on Sweet Chestnut in Italy |
| |
Authors: | Tiziana Annesi Laura Luongo Salvatore Vitale Massimo Galli Alessandra Belisario |
| |
Institution: | Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria‐Centro di Ricerca per la Patologia Vegetale (CRA‐PAV), 00156 Roma, Italy |
| |
Abstract: | In March 2014, an outbreak of shoot cankers was observed on grafted Castanea sativa plants in a glasshouse in central Italy. Morphological characteristics led to the identification of isolates of Phomopsis recovered from cankered stems and shoots. Based on the morphological characteristics of colony appearance, shape of conidia and conidiomata as well as sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), actin (ACT) and translation elongation factor (TEF‐1α), the fungus was identified as Phomopsis theicola/Diaporthe foeniculina. Pathogenicity test showed that P. theicola isolates were pathogenic to C. sativa when artificially inoculated, reproducing the symptoms originally observed. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating the pathogen. This is the first report of P. theicola/D. foeniculina causing stem and shoot cankers and dieback on C. sativa in Italy or elsewhere. |
| |
Keywords: |
Castanea sativa
Diaporthe
fungal diseases nursery diseases nuts
Phomopsis
|
|