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The fire blight disease caused by Erwinia amylovorais a major threat to apple and pear production worldwide. After its first detection in Morocco in 2006, the disease was widely spread in the following years in the region, causing severe losses in quince, pear and apple productions. Several approaches were then taken from early detection to the management of the disease. In this review, we emphasize some of the aspects of the fire blight disease symptoms, disease cycle, and pathogen development as well as control methods and measures undertaken against the fire blight outbreak. Detection and control methods employed by farmers and imposed by the government were having much attention for the disease management. Integrated control strategies using tolerant cultivars in combination with sanitation practices as well as cultural, physical, chemical, and biological controls were deeply discussed in this review. In conclusion, plant inspection authorities, farmers, and industries have learned many lessons from this unforgettable and devastating epidemic, and now they will be further prepared for a similar situation.

Citrus have been grown as a commercial fruit crop in Morocco for a decade. The area dedicated to growing and producing citrus has increased from 2006 to 2018 throughout the country. The rapid decline of citrus trees has been observed in many locations. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and characterize fungal pathogens associated with dry root rot (DRR) disease of citrus from diseased trees and soil collected from different citrus-growing plantations. Isolation and morphological identification of pathogens were performed using PDA-SC medium. Thirty-four Fusariumisolates were recovered from symptomatic plants. These isolates were identified based on morphological traits and the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Four Fusariumspecies were identified. Fusarium solani(Martius) was most frequently identified (70.60%), followed by F. oxysporum(17.65%), F. equiseti(8.82%) and F. brachygibbosum(2.94%). The two latter species have recently been associated with DRR in Morocco. Two separate pathogenicity trials were conducted to test the effect of the pathogens on young citrus seedlings. Results indicated that, with the exception of F. equiesti, Fusariumisolates were aggressive pathogens of citrange-Troyer and sour orange seedlings 2 months postinoculation. Citrus trees displayed key symptoms of DRR such as root rot, discolored and necrotic roots, purple wood discoloration, plant yellowing and general weakness. Further, all four species were able to induce lesions when they were used to inoculate citrus branches. This is the first detailed report of Fusariumspecies associated with DRR in Morocco.