Current status of bacterial spot of stone fruits and almond caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni in Spain

In 2002, typical symptoms of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits caused by Xanthomomas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) were observed for the first time on Japanese plum in Badajoz (south-western Spain). During the following years, the pathogen was found in seven other eastern and northern Spanish provinces (Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza, Huesca, Navarra, Lérida and Mallorca) affecting different cultivars of Japanese plum, nectarine, peach and almond. There are few previous reports of Xap on almond, the Spanish outbreaks constituting its first detection on this host in the European Union (EU). Identification of the pathogen was performed using biochemical tests, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profiles, conventional and real-time PCR, and hypersensitivity reaction on tobacco leaves. Pathogenicity was demonstrated by inoculation of young potted plants of peach, plum or almond and successful re-isolations from plants with symptoms. In areas where infected plants were found, eradication programs were set up since Xap has a quarantine status according to phytosanitary EU legislation.Publishe

Iniciadores específicos para detectar las especies de Colletotrichum causantes de la antracnosis de los olivos

[EN]Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides are the causal agents of the anthracnose on olive trees from Spain. In this work, the specific primers designed to discriminate both species are discussed.[ES]Colletotrichum acutatum y C. gloeosporioides son los agentes causantes de la antracnosis de los olivos en España. En este trabajo se presentan los iniciadores específicos diseñados que, junto con el iniciador general ITS4, permiten discriminar a ambas especies mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR).Las investigaciones sobre las epidemias de antracnosis en Andalucía han sido financiadas por los proyectos AGL96-1082 y AGL2000-1725 de la Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT).Peer reviewe

Laetiporus sulphureus, the causal agent of cubic heart rot in Cupressus macrocarpa.

[EN]The molecular methods based on the Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) have allowed to identified from steril mycelia to Laetiporus sulphureus as the casual agent of the heart root in Cupressus macrocarpa. Extraction, amplification and sequencing protocols are described.[ES]Mediante métodos moleculares basados en la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR), y a partir de micelio estéril, se ha identificado a Laetiporus sulphureus como el agente causante de la podredumbre cúbica en Cupressus macrocarpa. Se describen los protocolos de extracción, amplificación y secuenciación utilizados.Peer reviewe

Symptoms and fungi associated with declining mature grapevine plants in northeast Spain

A field survey was carried out in Catalonia (northeast Spain) to characterize the decline of mature grapevines. The relationships of both external and internal symptoms of diseased plants and their associated mycoflora were studied. Co-occurrence of different internal dis-ease symptoms was frequently observed, since 44% of the sampled plants had wood lesions commonly associated with at least two of the following decline diseases eutypiose, black dead arm or esca. The results obtained suggest that apoplexy might not be associated only with escaaffected plants, since 60% of surveyed vines showing apoplexy showed also V-shaped necroses, which are commonly associated with eutypiose and black dead arm, and 20% were exclusively affected by V-shaped necroses. An experiment was conducted to establish the pathogenicity of the most representative fungi isolated from diseased tissues of declining plants, by artificially inoculating 1-year-old vines of cvs Macabeo and Tempranillo. As indicated by the extension of the vascular lesions, pathogenicity was confirmed for most of the species tested, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia seriata, Eutypa lata, Neofusicoccum luteum, N. parvum and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora

A survey of trunk disease pathogens within rootstocks of grapevines in Spain

Grapevine trunk disease pathogens, and specifically Petri disease pathogens, can be spread by planting infected plants. Due to the increasing incidence of Petri disease and other young grapevine declines reported lately in Spain, a sampling of plants used before for new vineyards were carried out in 2002 and 2004. A total number of 208 plants (grafted and non grafted) were collected, of which 94 plants (45.2%) were infected with at least one of the following pathogens Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, and species of Phaeoacremonium, Botryosphaeria, Cylindrocarpon, and Phomopsis. Species of the genera Phaeoacremonium and Botryosphaeria isolated in 2004 were identified using morphological and molecular characters. Species of Phaeoacremonium identified were P. aleophilum and P. parasiticum; and those of Botryosphaeria were B. obtusa, B. dothidea and B. parva. This is the first report of P. parasiticum and B. parva occurring on grapevines in Spain. Distribution of pathogens within the plants was studied in 2004. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora was not detected in the graft union of any plant; however, species of Botryosphaeria and Phomopsis were detected along the plant, but mainly in the graft union; Phaeoacremonium aleophilum was detected along the grafted plants, but not in rooted rootstocks. The results suggest that infected plants used for new plantings in Spain are an important source of primary inoculum of the pathogens associated with grapevine trunk diseases in the field. © Springer 2006

First report of damping-off caused by Cylindrocarpon pauciseptatum on Pinus radiata in Spain

Agusti Brisach, C.; Pérez Sierra, AM.; García-Figueres, F.; Montón, C.; Armengol Fortí, J. (2011). First report of damping-off caused by Cylindrocarpon pauciseptatum on Pinus radiata in Spain. Plant disease. 98(7). doi:10.1094/PDIS-02-11-0125S87498