CHARCOAL ROT OF THE SUNFLOWER ROOTS AND STEMS (MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA (TASSI) GOID.) - AN OVERVIEW.

Charcoal rot of the sunflower roots and stems is present worldwide in all the areas with arid climate where is determining major loses. The etiologic agent of this disease is the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina considered as invasive due to its great range of host plants (over 500 species) and the very high harvest loses of the cultivated crops, mostly sunflower. The present climate changes are favouring the spread of the disease in areas where it wasn't present before. The climatic simulations realised until now in Europe shows the adaptation trend of the fungus in areas from Central and Southern Europe. The survival of the pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina in soil for long time periods makes its control almost impossible. In this work it was brought to attention the state of the art of the researches regarding the symptomatology, pathogeny, epidemiology and the control of this pathogen in conjunction with the climate change. The control strategies should highlight the prevention methods and the biological ones and less attention to be addressed to the chemical ones. The fungal and bacterial agents can be in future a viable alternative for the control of the pathogen M. phaseolina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]