Search

Field surveys conducted during 2021 and 2022 in Western Sicily, Italy, revealed the presence of common fig trees severely affected by trunk and crown root canker and bark cracking. Moreover, in conjunction with the symptomatic tissues, the same surveyed plants showed the presence of bark beetle holes and internal wood galleries. The predominant beetle Criphalus dilutus was previously reported attacking figs in Sicily. Phylogenetic analyses based on multilocus DNA data showed the presence of different fungal taxa associated with disease symptoms, including Botryosphaeria dothidea , Ceratocystis ficicola , Diaporthe foeniculina , Neocosmospora bostrycoides , N. perseae , and Neofusicoccum luteum . Pathogenicity tests conducted on potted fig plants showed that all the species were pathogenic to fig, with C. ficicola and Neocosmospora spp. as the most aggressive fungal species. Moreover, isolations conducted from the bodies of emerging adult insects recovered from disease samples confirmed the presence of C. ficicola and Neocosmospora spp., suggesting the potential involvement of C. dilutus in their dissemination., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Hazelnut ( Corylus avellana ), a nut crop that is rapidly expanding worldwide, is endangered by a rot. Nut rot results in hazelnut defects. A survey was conducted in northwestern Italy during 2020 and 2021 to identify the causal agents of hazelnut rots. Typical symptoms of black rot, mold, and necrotic spots were observed on hazelnuts. The prevalent fungi isolated from symptomatic hazelnut kernels were Diaporthe spp. (38%), Botryosphaeria dothidea (26%), Diplodia seriata (14%), and other fungal genera with less frequent occurrences. Among 161 isolated Diaporthe spp., 40 were selected for further analysis. Based on morphological characterization and multilocus phylogenetic analysis of the ITS, tef-1α , and tub2 , seven Diaporthe species were identified as D. eres , D. foeniculina , D. novem , D . oncostoma , D. ravennica , D. rudis , and D. sojae . D. eres was the main species isolated from hazelnut rots, in particular from moldy nuts. The pathogenicity test performed on hazelnuts 'Tonda Gentile del Piemonte' using a mycelium plug showed that all the Diaporthe isolates were pathogenic on their original host. To our knowledge, this work is the first report of D. novem , D . oncostoma , and D. ravennica on hazelnuts worldwide. D. foeniculina , D. rudis , and D. sojae were reported for the first time as agents of hazelnut rot in Italy. Future studies should focus on the comprehension of epidemiology and climatic conditions favoring the development of Diaporthe spp. on hazelnut. Prevention and control measures should target D. eres , representing the main causal agents responsible for defects and nut rot of hazelnuts in Italy., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.