Verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum) onMedicago sativa(alfalfa) in Iran.

The article investigates an outbreak of a wilt like disease of alfalfa (lucerne) in the Markazi Province of Iran. Symptoms during early growth stages typically consisted of V-shaped orange-pinkish necrotic areas on the leaflets. On severely affected shoots of more mature plants, leaflets were usually desiccated and twisted, forming spirals. These symptoms are very similar to those reported for verticillium wilt in alfalfa sterilized stem tissue onto water agar. The fungus was confirmed as the causal agent of the disease by inoculating Lucerne plants by root dipping into conidial suspensions. This is the first reported occurrence of verticillium wilt disease of alfalfa in Iran, or indeed anywhere in continental Asia. This particular wilt can be a severe disease in alfalfa and, should it become widespread in Iran, it could cause significant crop loss.