Transposon tagging in the causal agent of olive anthracnose Colletotrichum sp

Identification of Phytophthora species infecting citrus in Vietnam

In a survey aimed at identifying Phytophthora species infecting fruit crops in Viet Nam, P. citrophthora and P. nicotianae were the species most commonly recovered from soil and trees in citrus plantations. P. nicotianae was prevalent in citrus groves in the Ben Tre and Tien Giang provinces (southern Viet Nam). Interestingly, both A1 and A2 mating types of the latter species were found, while in other citrus-growing areas of the world, such as the Mediterranean region, South Africa, Australia and the Americas, A1 is the only mating type occurring in citrus groves, suggesting southern-east Asia could be a centre of origin of this Phytophthora species. Mixed infections of three Phytophthora s…

MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF COLLETOTRICHUM SPECIES ASSOCIATED TO OLIVE IN CALABRIA.

A new molecular approach based on the use of genus-specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA, was developed and used to study the diversity of Colletotrichum species associated with the olive canopy in the Gioia Tauro plain (Calabria, southern Italy). Representative symptomatic and symptomless samples of leaves, flowers and fruits were collected during 2012 and analyzed by extracting total DNA and amplifying the target region with the genus-specific primers. Amplicons were cloned and sequenced in order to use the ITS as a barcode gene. No Colletotrichum species were detected in the first sampling period (May 28, 2012), whereas around 15% of the analyze…

CHARACTERIZATION OF COLLETOTRICHUM SPECIES CAUSING OLIVE ANTHRACNOSE IN ITALY

Characterization of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose of ornamentals and horticultural crops in Italy

MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF PHYTOPHTHORA DIVERSITY IN ORNAMENTAL NURSERIES.

A molecular approach based on the use of genus-specific nested-PCR primers (Scibetta et al., 2012; J. Microbiol. Meth. 88: 356-368) was utilized to detect Phytophthora species in soil and root samples of potted ornamentals, collected across Apulia and Calabria, Southern Italy. Analyzed samples comprised many plant species with different levels of symptoms of decline on the canopy and root rots. Extraction protocols were optimized to obtain DNA samples of appropriate quality from soil and roots. The analysis of sequences after cloning of nested-PCR amplicons enabled the identification of different Phytophthora species including P. nicotianae, P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. palmivora and P. n…

Root and crown rot of olive caused by Phytophthora spp

Root and crown tot of olive caused dy Phytophthora spp.

Phytophthora root and crown rot has been traditionally considered a minor disease of olive. However, in recent years it has been recognized as an emerging problem in several olive-growing countries such as Australia, Italy and Spain probably as a consequence of the expansion of plantings in new areas with heavy soils and the more intensive use of irrigation in both olive nurseries and commercial groves. The disease has been reported from most olive-growing countries and is caused by several soil -borne species of Phytophthora, including P. cinnamomi, P. citricola, P. cryptogea, P. drechsleri, P. gonapodyides, P. inundata, P. megasperma,P. nicotianae and P.palmivora. Diagnosis is currently b…