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Morphological and Molecular Identification of Dactylonectria macrodidyma as Causal Agent of a Severe Prunus lusitanica Dieback in Italy.

Authors :
Pecchia, Susanna
Caggiano, Benedetta
Da Lio, Daniele
Resta, Emilio
Source :
Horticulturae; Feb2023, Vol. 9 Issue 2, p145, 14p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

During the summer of 2016, severe dieback was observed on young potted Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel) plants in a nursery in the Pistoia province (Tuscany, Italy). Cylindrocarpon-like isolates were consistently recovered from diseased plant tissues. The combination of morphological and molecular traits, including sequence data of histone 3 and β-tubulin genes (HIS3, TUB2) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS), allowed the identification of Dactylonectria macrodidyma (Halleen, Schroers & Crous) L. Lombard & Crous (asexual form Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum) as the causal agent of the disease. Pathogenicity tests reproduced disease symptoms observed in the nursery after six months fulfilling Koch's postulates. D. macrodidyma is a soilborne plant pathogen and is to be considered of great economic importance on P. lusitanica, especially under favorable conditions such as stress and/or reduction of plant vitality. The increasingly frequent reports of the disease caused by the pathogen in various nurseries suggest that pot cultivation, together with prolonged drought periods, may play a role in favoring infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of the occurrence of dieback on Prunus lusitanica caused by D. macrodidyma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23117524
Volume :
9
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Horticulturae
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
162135794
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020145