Abstract
Plectosphaerella cucumerina has been described recently as the causal agent of a leaf spot on wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia). Eight seed samples of wild rocket obtained from commercial seed lots used for sowing by farms severely affected by P. cucumerina, were assayed for the presence of the pathogen. Isolations were carried out on subsamples of seeds (400) unwashed or disinfected in 1% sodium hypochloride. The pathogenicity of the isolates of P. cucumerina obtained was tested in two trials carried out on wild rocket; four out of eight samples of rocket seeds were contaminated by P. cucumerina. Eleven isolates of P. cucumerina were obtained from 7,200 not disinfected seeds tested, while none was isolated from an equal number of disinfected seeds. All isolates were pathogenic on wild rocket. The results obtained indicate that rocket seeds are a potential source of inoculum for P. cucumerina. The possibility of isolating the pathogen from seeds, albeit from a low percentage of them, supports the hypothesis that the rapid spread of this new disease of rocket recently observed in Italy is due to the use of infected propagation material. Measures for prevention and control of the disease are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atkins, S. D., Clark, I. M., Sosnowska, D., Hirsch, P. R., & Kerry, B. R. (2003). Detection and quantification of Plectosphaerella cucumerina, a potential biological control agent of potato cyst nematodes, by using conventional PCR, Real-Time PCR, selective media, and baiting. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69, 4788–4793.
Carlucci, A., Raimondo, M. L., Santos, J., & Phillips, A. J. L. (2012). Plectosphaerella species associated with root and collar rots of horticultural crops in southern Italy. Persoonia, 28, 34–48.
Chiocchetti, A., Sciaudone, L., Durando, F., Garibaldi, A., & Migheli, Q. (2001). PCR detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilici on basil. Plant Disease, 85, 607–611.
Forsberg, G., Johnsson, L., & Lagerholm, J. (2005). Effects of aerated steam seed treatment on cereal seed-borne diseases and crop yield. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 112, 247–256.
Garibaldi, A., Gilardi, G., Pasquali, M., Keiji, S., & Gullino, M. L. (2004). Seed transmission of Fusarium oxysporum of Eruca vesicaria and Diplotaxis muralis. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 111, 345–350.
Garibaldi, A., Gilardi, G., Ortu, G., & Gullino, M. L. (2012). First report of Plectosphaerella cucumerina on greenhouse cultured wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) in Italy. Plant Disease, 96, 1825.
Garibaldi, A., Gilardi, G., Ortu, G., & Gullino, M.L. (2013). First report of Plectosphaerella cucumerina on field grown endive (Cichorium endivia) in Italy. Plant Disease, 97, in press.
Gilardi, G., Ortu, G., Gullino, M. L., & Garibaldi, A. (2012). Una nuova malattia della rucola selvatica causata da Plectosphaerella cucumerina. Protezione delle Colture, 5, 31–33.
Lievens, B., Hanssen, I. M., & Rep, M. (2012). Recent developments in the detection and identification of formae speciales and races of Fusarium oxysporum: from pathogenicity testing to molecular diagnostics. In M. L. Gullino, J. Katan, & A. Garibaldi (Eds.), Fusarium wilts of greenhouse vegetable and ornamental crops (pp. 47–55). St. Paul, MN, USA: APS Press.
Mathur, S. B., & Kongsdal, O. (2003). Common laboratory seed health testing methods for detecting fungi (1st revised ed.). Zurich, Switzerland: International Seed Testing Association.
Matta, A., & Garibaldi, A. (1981). Malattie delle piante ortensi (1st revised ed.). Bologna, Italy: Edagricole.
Mbofung, G. C. Y., & Pryor, B. M. (2010). A PCR-based assay for detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in lettuce seed. Plant Disease, 94, 860–866.
Palm, M. E., Gams, W., & Nirenberg, H. I. (1995). Plectosporium, a new genus for Fusarium tabacinum, the anamorph of Plectosphaerella cucumerina. Mycologia, 87, 397–406.
Pasquali, M., Dematheies, F., Gullino, M. L., & Garibaldi, A. (2007). Identification of race 1 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae on lettuce by inter-retrotransposon sequence-characterised amplified region technique. Phytopathology, 97, 987–996.
Pellegrino, C., Gilardi, G., Gullino, M. L., & Garibaldi, A. (2010). Detection of Phoma valerianellae in lamb’s lettuce seeds. Phytoparasitica, 38, 159–165.
Tinivella, F., Hirata, L. M., Celan, M. A., Wright, S. A. I., Amein, T., Schmitt, A., et al. (2009). Control of seed-borne pathogens on legumes by microbial and other alternative seed treatments. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 123, 139–151.
Acknowledgments
This work was carried out within the framework of the projects “Seed health: development of seed treatment methods, evidence for seed transmission and assessment of seed health (TESTA)”, funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement 311875 and “Plant and food biosecurity (PLANT FOOD SEC)”, funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement 261752.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gilardi, G., Garibaldi, A. & Gullino, M.L. Seed transmission of Plectosphaerella cucumerina, causal agent of leaf spot of Diplotaxis tenuifolia in Italy. Phytoparasitica 41, 411–416 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0302-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0302-4