ISHS Acta Horticulturae 708: V International Strawberry Symposium
EVALUATION OF PHYTOSANITARY STATUS OF COLD-STORED RUNNER PLANTS OF STRAWBERRY IN BASILICATA, SOUTHERN ITALY |
| Authors: | I. Camele, A. Caponera, M. Cirulli, F. Marras, S. Frisullo |
| Keywords: | PCR, quarantine pests, RFLP, phytopathogenic fungi, chromista, Phytophthora |
| Abstract:
In order to assess the health status of cold-stored runner plants to be used in the 2002 plantings in Southern Italy, a survey was carried out. Extensive visual inspec-tions were made and laboratory methods were used to isolate fungal pathogens on suitable media for microscopic examination. Particular emphasis was placed on detec-tion of injuries due to excessively low temperatures during storage, and detection of quarantine pests such as phytopathogenic fungi, including chromista. Furthermore, cold-stored runners were examined for Phytophthora infections by employing poly-merase chain reaction (PCR) assays. A total of 3,000 cold-stored runner plants of seven cultivars, originating from several nurseries, were examined for injuries caused by excessively low temperatures during storage. Injury severity was evaluated according to the MacKinney index, and varied from 0.09 to 1.53. Injuries appeared to be non variety-specific and varied con-siderably according to the plant nursery that provided the plants. Detection and iden-tification of fungal or chromista pathogens by classical and molecular methods revealed the presence of fungi belonging to ten different genus, represented mainly by Cadophora, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. The occurrence of Phytophthora infections was observed only with a highly sensitive nested PCR assay. Using universal and species-specific fungal primers and RFLP analysis with suitable restriction endonucleases, 30 out of 70 runner plants examined proved to be infected with Phytophthora cactorum. Among the 30 Phytophthora- positive plants, 10 plants showed no symptoms. Data ob-tained did not reveal phytopathogenic chromista fungi e.g. Phytophthora fragariae, which is listed as a quarantine pathogen in Europe. | |
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