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Colonization of Olive Inflorescences by Verticillium dahliae and its Significance for Pathogen Spread
Author(s) -
Trapero Carlos,
Roca Luis F.,
Alcántara Esteban,
LópezEscudero Francisco J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of phytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0434
pISSN - 0931-1785
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0434.2011.01809.x
Subject(s) - verticillium dahliae , verticillium wilt , biology , inflorescence , verticillium , olive trees , botany , crop , pathogen , horticulture , fungus , agronomy , microbiology and biotechnology
Verticillium wilt of olive, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is the most severe disease affecting this crop in most olive growing countries. In this study, the presence of viable structures of V. dahliae in dried inflorescences from wilted olive shoots was investigated. The pathogen was found inside peduncles and flowers, by assessing the number of typical star‐shaped microsclerotial colonies formed onto the modified sodium polypectate agar medium. Microsclerotia of V. dahliae were observed inside the peduncles under the stereoscopic microscope. The presence of microsclerotia in these easily decomposable olive tissues shows that infected inflorescences can act as a source of inoculum for Verticillium wilt epidemics.