Abstract
This is the first report of the occurrence of shoot blight and canker disease of pomegranates in Greece caused by the fungus Pilidiella granati Saccardo. The pathogen caused cankers on shoots, fruit rot and crown rot of pomegranate trees. Preliminary studies showed that pycnidia, developed on mummified fruits, blighted shoots and crown, could be overwintering forms of the fungus P. granati. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth and conidium germination of P. granati in vitro was between 25 and 30 °C and was totally inhibited at 2–4 °C and at 35 °C. Pathogenicity tests showed that the pomegranate cv. ‘Wonderful’ and nine genotypes grown in Imathia Prefecture, Greece, were equally susceptible to P. granati. In general, the disease caused by P. granati could be a threat to pomegranate cultivation in Greece and its epidemiology and management should be futher investigated.
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This work was funded by O.P. Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (EPAN ΙΙ), ROP Macedonia – Thrace, ROP Crete and Aegean Islands, ROP Thessaly - Mainland Greece – Epirus, ROP Attica.
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Thomidis, T. Pathogenicity and characterization of Pilidiella granati causing pomegranate diseases in Greece. Eur J Plant Pathol 141, 45–50 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-014-0520-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-014-0520-8