FIRST REPORT OF RAMULARIA COLLO-CYGNI IN SLOVAKIA

• Published in: Journal of plant pathology 2008-03, Vol.90 (1), p.149-149
• Main Authors: Gubis, J, Hudcovicova, M, Klcova, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Barley; Disease Note; Hordeum vulgare; Leaves; Polymerase chain reaction; Secale; Triticum
• ISSN: 1125-4653; 2239-7264

In 1987, the fungus Ophiocladium hordei Cav. was identified in Austria as the causal agent of a new barley disease (Huss et al., 1987). Sutton and Waller (1988) isolated the same fungus from triticale (Triticum x Secale) and other graminaceous plants, revised its taxonomic position, and renamed it Ramularia collo-cygni. More recently this fungus has been identified in a number of countries where is gaining importance (Frei et al., 2007). During summer 2006 and 2007 ringspots of unknown nature were observed on the leaves of spring barley growing in central Slovakia (Viglas-Pstrusa area). Twenty symptomatic leaf samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of R. collo-cygni. Total genomic DNA from naturally infected barley leaves, was extracted using Dneasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA) according the manufacturer's protocol. Specific detection of the pathogen was done using specific primers and the amplification conditions described by Frei et al. (2007). Purified fungal DNA form a culture provided by Dr. P. Frei (Agroscope, RAC Changing, Nyon, Switzerland) was used as positive control. From fourteen samples of diseased barley leaves and the control, the expected product of 348 bp was amplified by PCR, confirming the presence of R. colli-cygni in symptomatic plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this pathogen in Slovakia.