Phytophthora cinnamomi causing stem canker and root rot of nursery-grown Platanus × acerifolia: first report in the Northern emisphere

Lethal stem and root cankers were observed in nursery-grown Platanus × acerifolia trees in Rome. Externally, canker lesions appeared as bluish or blackish areas starting from the stem base and extending upward. Inner bark was necrotised. In some cases an irregularly-shaped callus reaction attempted...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytopathologia mediterranea 2014-04, Vol.53 (1), p.75-82
Main Authors: PILOTTI, Massimo, DI LERNIA, Giovanni, LUMIA, Valentina, RICCIONI, Luca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bark
Callus
Ceratocystis
Inoculation
Lesions
Necrosis
Pathogens
Phytopathology
Phytophthora cinnamomi
Plant diseases
Plant roots
Platanus
RESEARCH PAPERS
Roots
Street trees
Trees
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Summary:Lethal stem and root cankers were observed in nursery-grown Platanus × acerifolia trees in Rome. Externally, canker lesions appeared as bluish or blackish areas starting from the stem base and extending upward. Inner bark was necrotised. In some cases an irregularly-shaped callus reaction attempted to heal the bark lesions. Black-stained necrosis affected the primary roots and the small branch roots to different degrees. The presence of Ceratocystis platani was excluded in the diseased trees. Phytophthora-like organisms were isolated from the altered tissue. Morphological and ITS-region-based analyses identified the isolates as Phytophthora cinnamomi. A pathogenicity test confirmed P. cinnamomi as the causal agent of the disease here defined as: stem canker and root rot of plane tree. This is the first report of P. cinnamomi in Platanus spp. in the Northern emisphere.
ISSN:0031-9465
1593-2095