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Disorders of Platanus × acerifolia in Italy associated with Fusarium solani
Author(s) -
PILOTTI M.,
PONZIO V.,
MOTTA E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
forest pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1439-0329
pISSN - 1437-4781
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0329.2002.00289.x
Subject(s) - fusarium solani , biology , xylem , bark (sound) , botany , inoculation , horticulture , canker , ecology
Summary Open perennial cankers with swollen borders were observed on branches and trunks of Platanus × acerifolia trees in the urban environment of Rome. On several other plane trees, swellings without splitting, sometimes associated with witches' brooms, were also recorded. A general decline occurred on those trees in which these symptoms were particularly severe. On sectioning, the xylem of symptomatic stems showed discoloured areas with a yellow to reddish reaction zone. There was also some decay which seemed to result, over a period of time, in the formation of large cavities. Isolations from the discoloured wood of 34 trees affected by open cankers or swellings revealed the presence of several fungi, but a close association was only found with Fusarium solani . On the basis of cultural characteristics, two types of F. solani were recognized. When isolates from open cankers were inoculated on P . × acerifolia seedlings, the xylem was discoloured and little swellings were formed in the bark. The nature of the symptoms in mature trees and the possible role of Fusarium solani is discussed.