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Molecular characterization of Diplodia seriata, a new pathogen of Prunus laurocerasus in Italy

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Abstract

Twig cankers and diebacks were observed on cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) hedges located in a private garden of Perugia (Central Italy). Four fungal isolates, forming gray colonies and aerial mycelium, were obtained from cankers. For each isolate, Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by inoculating cherry laurel plants. Based on cultural characteristics, rep-PCR and phylogenetic analyses on ITS and EF1-α nucleotides sequences, the isolates were identified as Diplodia seriata De Not. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of D. seriata as a new pathogen of P. laurocerasus. The severe symptoms and the wide distribution of the host plant make the pathogen potentially dangerous for this ornamental species.

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Acknowledgments

The author wish to thank Prof. Laura Mugnai of University of Florence, Italy, who kindly supplied isolate 411 of Diplodia pinea and Dott. Jose Urbez-Torres of University of California, Davis, USA, who kindly supplied strain UCD2190Mo of Botryosphaeria dothidea, and strain UCD2165OR of Diplodia mutila.

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  1. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Mara Quaglia, Chiaraluce Moretti & Roberto Buonaurio

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  1. Mara Quaglia
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  2. Chiaraluce Moretti
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  3. Roberto Buonaurio
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Correspondence to Mara Quaglia.

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Quaglia, M., Moretti, C. & Buonaurio, R. Molecular characterization of Diplodia seriata, a new pathogen of Prunus laurocerasus in Italy. Phytoparasitica 42, 189–197 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0350-9

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