Petria 11(1), 1-6 (2001)

Lettera alla Direzione/Letter to the Editors

Resistance breeding to wheat stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis West.) in Chinese major endemic regions

ZHOU XIANGCHUN¹, WU LIREN²

¹Lanzhou Agricultural School, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730020, China

²Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS, Beijing, 100094, China

Wheat stripe rust in Longnan

The southeast area of the Gansu Province in China is called Longnan. It is an area with complex topographical features and different climates. The year average acreage of wheat is 300,000 ha, at varying altitudes, between 800-2,400 m. The bio-geographic characters and vertical distribution of wheat in Longnan is responsible for the fact that the stripe rust can over-summer in higher altitude and over-winter in lower altitude. Thus, the annual infection cycle is completed through regional epidemics. The continuous infection cycle is, therefore, favourable for the survival, accumulation and increase of new stripe rust races. It was estimated that the stripe pathogen could go through 16-18 generations in Longnan during March-November (15 days a generation as compared to 8-10 generations on the eastern plain of China).

More generations and longer duration in the field mean better chances for new races to evolve either through mutations or through other mechanisms. In fact, it was reported that among the 16 main stripe rust races evolved in the last 45 years, 80 percent was originated from Longnan and then spread to other wheat areas in China. The appearance of new races is responsible for the loss of variety resistance to the disease.

The area of 1,700 m in Longnan is the most important oversummering area for the rust fungus and main base of rust fungus diffusion to the eastern part of the wheat area, in autumn, since the average air temperature rarely exceeds 22 °C during summer. When autumn comes, the urediospores of the over-summered pathogens are windborne eastward to infect the late-sown seedlings in wheat fields of the Guanzhong plain and along the Longhai railroad, including southern Shanxi, northern Henan, northern Anhui, northern Jiangsu and even part of Hubei. The pathogen overwinters as dormant mycelium in the tissues of fresh wheat leaves in those where the minimum temperature rarely drops below 6-7 °C. When spring comes and the climate becomes warmer, the pathogen begins to sporulate and the urediospores are windborne to infect wheat fields in the northern provinces. So two annual infection cycles are established; small epidemics between higher mountain and the plain area in Longnan and a big epidemics between oversummering area in Longnan and overwintering area in eastern lower altitude. In the epidemic cycle, Longnan serves as the source upstream while Guanzhong plain and the eastern province serve as the mid- and downstream, respectively. The higher mountainous area in Longnan therefore plays a critical role in rust pathogen cycles in China.

For these reasons, we can consider Longnan the “centre of origin” and the crucial zone for the control of the stripe rust. If the new rust races mutation speed could be slowed down and the oversummering of the pathogen decreased, the time of permanence of rust resistant varieties could be prolonged and the pressure for rust protection decreased in other wheat areas of China.

Stripe rust resistance breeding in Longnan

Due to new rust races, most rust resistant wheat varieties lost their resistance within 3-4 years or 7-8 years in Longnan and previously rust resistant varieties were infected. In fact, the main cause for replacement of varieties is the loss of _resistance. So the task of breeders is to breed new rust resistant varieties by using new resistance sources. Wheat in Longnan has witnessed two trends: the evolution of rust races and the history of variety replacement. This indeed reflects the development of the competition between rust resistant genes and rust genes.

Most varieties bred by other provinces since the 1970s cannot stand in the Longnan area because of the severe conditions. The varieties now in use are mainly bred by the Agricultural Research Institute of Tianshui (ARIT) and by the Lanzhou Agricultural School (LAS) and all belong to five series: Tianxuan, Zhong Linang, Qingnong, Qingshan and Lantian. Among these, the Lantian series plays an important role (Table 1).

Table 1 - List of the main improved wheat varieties bred in Longnan

The main experiences in rust-resistant breeding in Longnan

1 - Adoption of multi-resistant sources and increase of number of varieties. The variety used in Longnan in the 1950s was mainly Bima 1 which is an oriental selection and susceptible to the rust pathogen, leading to the big rust epidemic in 1957. After 1964, multi-resistant varieties were adopted in variety distribution, as the varieties Cheyenne/ Early Blackhull, Abbondanza, Jubileina 2, Tianxuan 15 and 17, Bulgarian 10, etc. No large rust epidemic occurred for 12 consecutive years. Afterwards breeders used multi-resistant resources as much as possible and the number of varieties used was also increased.

2 - The main task of rust resistant breeding is to combine the high resistance with good agronomic characters. The main model was to cross an immune variety with susceptible varieties with good agronomic traits. Successfully used resistance sources include Abbondanza, Jubileina 2, Chambord, 7084, 6828, Neuzucht, T, J, B, Zhong 4. Superior rust resistant varieties can be selected from the progenies derived from crosses between susceptible varieties resistance genes accumulation. For example, Qingnong 3 and Lantian 3 were immune to rust races at the beginning, even though, their parents are susceptible varieties. However such chances are very rare and can occur only under severe rust epidemic.

3 - It is necessary to use  carefully commercial varieties as resistant parents. This is because commercial varieties are usually planted on a comparatively large acreage. This exerts a selection pressure on the rust race population, so that they might loose their resistance very rapidly, as it is due to the Yr 9 gene. Since Lantain 1 was grown on large acreage, it lost very quickly its resistance, together with Lovrin 13 (only four years after its release).

4 - Use of different resistant parents in stripe rust oversummering and over wintering areas. The distribution of varieties with different resistance sources in over summering and overwintering areas makes the survival and multiplication of the pathogen difficult and, therefore, it prolongs the resistance of the varieties. Thus, Qingnong 1 and 2 were only grown in fields at lower altitude, whereas Qingshan 782, 821 and 843 were planted on the oversummering area at higher altitude. All those varieties maintained their resistance for more than ten years.

5 - Cooperation between breeders and phytopathologists. The knowledge of the change of the races can make the breeder more efficient. Sometimes new lines appear to be susceptible but, if the frequency of infection by the race is low, the line can be used. The collaboration of a breeder with a phytopathologist is therefore needed.

6 - Selection by artificial inoculation. Selection according to heritable characters by artificial inoculation with contemporary dominant rust races has to be ensured in the nursery. Moreover, susceptible spreader rows should be grown, evenly spaced in the field and inoculated at even intervals. Standards for the selection of resistant individuals from segregating populations were different and depended on the different inheritance behavior of the characters carried by the parents. Thus, in populations whose inheritance of resistance was completely dominant, only the "immune" types were selected, but when the dominance was incomplete or when the inheritance approached recessiveness, moderately resistant and even moderately susceptible individuals were also considered. The resistance of such group may be stronger as the selection continued because of the genes becoming homozygote.

Problems in rust-resistance breeding in Longnan

The fast appearance of new rust races in Longnan and the long time necessary for breeding induce many breeders to say that variety breeding speed cannot match with that of new races. Since each new race in Longnan is reducing the resistance of several varieties, the breeders are pressed to think how the situation can be changed and how successful will be the struggle with rust. To solve these questions, we must understand the problems of the rust resistance breeding in Longnan.

1 - Lack of knowledge of genetic background of resistance sources. For many years we have only used and selected the rust resistant from the resistant materials but we did not know their rust resistance genes. Different resistant material may have the same resistance genes and this makes the breeding in some way blind. For example, LAS bred a multiline with three resistant parents, but they are all severely infected by the race Cs 31. The reason is that the parents have the same resistance genes. Unknown genetic background of resistant parents may cause a number of varieties to loose their resistance at the same time and can affect the reasonable distribution of varieties in the oversummering area and in the overwintering area.

2 - Too few rust-resistance genes were used. According to results of the spectrum analysis carried out by the Institute of Plant Protection (CAAS), resistance genes used in Longnan included only Yr 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, SD, SU and some unknown Yr genes, carried by main varieties and resistant parents. However, most resistance genes known internationally were not used in breeding in Longnan.

3 - A single type of stripe rust resistance. For years, the breeding in Longnan was mainly focused vertical resistance type. In fact, it is easier to select and identify and the varieties bred have good rust resistance, but this kind of variety can also loose its resistance and can be severely infected when new races appear. Some varieties, such as Xiannong 4, Libellula, N. Strampelli, used for 20 years in Longnan even though new races were present, showed good tolerance although these varieties were infected, and the yield was not remarkably reduced. This gives us a signal to go toward a diversification of resistance sources.

The guidelines and practices for realizing continuous

control of stripe rust in Longnan

In order to obtain successful control of the stripe rust in Longnan, since 1993, a cooperative research programme was set up by experts from LAS and Plant Protection Institutes, CAAS, and other organizations as well. The general guidelines were established. The rust resistance breeding is one of the main tasks of this team.

1 - Stripe rust resistance genebank. To set up a stripe rust-resistance genebank is the basic work for rust resistance breeding. All internally known rust resistance genes are introduced in Longnan by specific varieties. We also introduced some durable resistant varieties and about 3000 varieties (lines) were introduced from 16 countries or organizations, such as CIMMYT, USA, UK, Germany, Italy, and a large amount of rust resistant varieties, bred by domestic researchers, were also introduced. From them, some valuable resistant materials were selected. The stripe rust resistance genebank was first set up.

2 - Transfer of new Yr genes. To transfer Yr genes that have not yet been used in China, such as Yr 3b, 4b, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, c.519, after we performed a clear understanding about the genetic background of major resistance sources and released cultivars, is then a second goal. We will try to use different resistance genes in oversummering and overwintering areas in the future. In this way, the life cycle of the pathogen can be interrupted. The variation and inoculum accumulation were reduced from 1993, when we transferred Yr resistance genes into varieties by crossing. We have obtained a number of rust resistant lines with good agronomic characters and effective stripe rust resistance genes. More resistance sources will be identified and tested.

3 - Multiline breeding. The aim is to build up multiline varieties with different Yr genes and good agronomic characters of high commercial value. It is now hard to use the known resistance genes because they are associated with poor agronomic characters. The key is to find the best agronomic parents with good yield and resistance characters. For our breeding programme, multiline varieties are promising.

4 - Screening and breeding for slow-rusting cultivars. We estimated the slow-rusting varieties considering four aspects: reaction type, the time of incubation, disease index and loss of kernel weight. After four years of experiments, we have successfully bred three slow-rusting varieties (lines), Lantian 5, 85-261 and 81t-53, with good agronomic characters. The present total acreage of these three varieties is over 200,000 ha and the varieties are used mainly to improve the production practices. The performance of the three varieties is shown in Table 2.

Table 2 - Performance of the three slow-rusting varieties (1996-1999, LAS)

*The test variety was Fu63 in 1996 and Minxian 169 in 1997-1999

5 - Tolerant varieties. Breeding for tolerant varieties is based on field durable resistance, high-temperature resistance, temperature-sensitive resistance and other types of resistance as well. Lantian 1, bred by LAS, presents remarkable disease resistance in its late growth period. According to research results obtained by Prof. Shang Hunsheng, Lantian 1 expresses its best resistance at high temperature (Table 3). This is an important finding for us.

Table 3 - Rust reaction of Lantian 1 at seedling stage, at different temperatures* 

*Normal temperature is 14 °C; high temperature is 21 °C; Ms = moderately susceptible; S = susceptible; MR = moderately resistant; HR =  highly resistant:

6 - Introduction and selection of Triticale to be grown in oversummering areas. In order to reduce acreage of host wheat and amount of rust fungus in oversummering areas and in areas where stripe rust is most severe, in recent years LAS introduced triticale varieties lines. Most of them are highly resistant to stripe rust and powdery mildew. RH 122/94, bred in Poland, showed 39,53 percent yield increase as compared to wheat in 1,700 m mountainous land and yield 6,02 t/ha in 2,100 m mountainous demonstration area. Toll, earlier material introduced from CIMMYT, bred by LAS, has yields of over 30 percent compared to wheat in experiments. All these varieties (lines) are in demonstration fields.

References

Yuan Wenhuan, Zhang Zhongjun, Feng Feng, Zeng Shimai, 1995. Identification of wheat cultivars with slow-rusting resistance to yellow rust pathogen. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 28, 35-40.

Yuan Wenhuan, Li Gaubao, 1996. Identification methods of wheat varieties with slow stripe rust. Gansu Agr. Sci. and Techn., 5, 28-30.

Petria 11(1), 7-17 (2001) Rassegna/Review

Aggiornamento e considerazioni sui sistemi di identificazione delle razze fisiologiche di Plasmopara helianthi Novot.

LAURA TOSI

Dipartimento di Arboricoltura e Protezione delle Piante,Università di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, I-06121 Perugia

In questa nota viene descritta la distribuzione delle razze fisiologiche di Plasmopara helianthi Novot. nel mondo e vengono illustrati criticamente i diversi sistemi internazionali di identificazione delle razze che via via sono stati proposti, con particolare riferimento al recente sistema denominato codice a tripletta. Parte della nota viene poi dedicata alla descrizione della metodologia universalmente proposta per l’inoculazione delle linee differenziali, per la valutazione e l’interpretazione dei risultati in base a tutti i sistemi di identificazione e denominazione in uso.

Parole chiave: Plasmopara helianthi, Razze fisiologiche, Identificazione delle razze, Resistenza, Peronospora, Girasole.

Updating and comments on international systems of race identification of Plasmopara helianthi Novot.

This review reports the world-wide distribution of physiologic races of Plasmopara helianthi Novot. Among the different available internationally standardized methods for race identification, the triplet coding system is carefully described. Part of the paper deals with the standardized methods and conditions of differential line inoculation, evaluation and interpretation of results in all the identification systems used. Finally, the proposed international systems of nomenclature are critically discussed.

Key words: Plasmopara helianthi, Physiologic races, Race identification, Resistance, Downy mildew, Sunflower

Petria 11(1), 19-24 (2001)Articolo scientfico/Scientific  paper

Botrytis cinerea  Pers. ex Fr., nuovo patogeno di Ruscus hypoglossum L. in Italia

LAURA TOSI, MARIO MARTE

Dipartimento di Arboricoltura e Protezione delle Piante, Università degli Studi di Perugina, Borgo XX Giugno, 74 I-06121, Perugia

Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. viene segnalata per la prima volta in Italia su Ruscus hypoglossum L. Le piante, di aspetto cespuglioso, presentavano sui cladodi tacche necrotiche circolari grigiastre con un alone giallo; successivamente le lesioni scurivano e in alcuni cladodi il tessuto necrotico si lacerava. Anche i fusti potevano presentare lesioni piuttosto estese ma che non avvolgevano completamente lo stelo. Inoculazioni di piante di R. hypoglossum con l’isolato ottenuto hanno dimostrato la patogenicità del fungo per questo ospite. Probabilmente gli attacchi di B. cinerea sono stati favoriti dall’elevata umidità presente nelle serre di coltivazione. Fungicidi antibotritici, già noti (dicloran, diclofluanide) possono ridurre significativamente lo sviluppo della malattia, ma anche principi attivi più recenti (cyprodinil, fludioxonil+cyprodinil) rappresentano un’efficace alternativa in strategie di difesa contro questo patogeno.

Parole chiave: Botrytis cinerea, Ruscus hypoglossum, Muffa grigia.

Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., a new pathogen of Ruscus hypoglossum L. in Italy

Attacks of Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. on Ruscus hypoglossum L. plants, grown in pots in greenhouses, were recorded for the first time in Italy. Affected cladodes showed circular necrotic spots, greyish in colour with a yellow halo; the lesions later became darker and in some cladodes the necrotic tissues gradually tore. Some stems also showed large necrotic lesions which did not girdle the stalk. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by inoculating Ruscus plants with the isolated fungus. Botrytis attacks had been probably favoured by greenhouse conditions, especially high relative humidity. Fungicides such as dicloran and dichlofluanid can significantly reduce disease development and new fungicides (cyprodinil, fludioxonil+cyprodinil) may also be effective for Botrytis control.

Key words: Botrytis cinerea, Ruscus hypoglossum, Grey mould.

Petria 11(1), 25-29, (2001) Articolo scientifico/Scientific paper

Osservazioni preliminari sulla tracheofusariosi del ruscus e degli asparagi ornamentali in Liguria e relative prove di lotta

MAURO SACCO¹, FERDINANDO D’AQUILA¹, PAOLO CURIR¹, CARLO PASINI¹, M.GRAZIA FANTINO², PAOLA NIPOTI²

¹Istituto Sperimentale per la Floricoltura di Sanremo, Corso Inglesi, 508, I-18038 Sanremo

²Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali, Università degli Studi, Via Filippo Re, 8, I-40126, Bologna

È stata condotta un’indagine preliminare sulla tracheofusariosi del ruscus (Danae racemosa) e di asparagi ornamentali (Asparagus plumosus, A. sprengeri, A. myriocladus ecc.) coltivati nel Ponente Ligure, allo scopo di identificarne l’agente eziologico e di verificare l’efficacia della lotta biologica. Le prove di patogenicità, condotte con numerosi isolati dai diversi ospiti, hanno indicato una variabilità simile a quella ottenuta con Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi. Tale analogia, da definire con saggi molecolari, non è stata comprovata dalle prove di compatibilità vegetativa, in cui quasi tutti gli isolati sono risultati appartenere a gruppi separati. Riguardo alle prove di lotta, la combinazione di Gliocladium virens + Streptomyces griseoviridis (160 + 0,1 g/m²) ha fornito la medesima protezione contro la tracheofusariosi della miscela di benomyl + prochloraz (1,5 + 1,5 g/m²).

Parole chiave: Ruscus, Asparagi ornamentali, Fusarium oxysporum, Patogenicità, Lotta biologica.

Preliminary observations on Fusarium wilt of ruscus and ornamental asparagus in the Italian Riviera and its biocontrol.

An investigation has been carried out on Fusarium wilt of Danae racemosa, Asparagus plumosus and A. sprengeri, grown in the Italian Riviera, aimed to the identification of etiological agent and its biocontrol. The pathogenicity tests carried out with several strains from different hosts, showed a profile of the variability quite similar to that of Fusarium. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi. But, such analogy was not confirmed by the vegetative compatibility assays, which indicated the occurrence of separate groups. Biocontrol trials showed a protection towards Fusarium wilt with the combination of Gliocladium virens + Streptomyces griseoviridis (160 + 0.1 g/m²), comparable to efficacy of benomyl + prochloraz (1.5 + 1.5 g/m²).

Key-words: Danae racemosa, Asparagus plumosus, A. sprengeri, Fusarium oxysporum, Virulence, Biocontrol.

Petria 11(1), 31-36 (2001)Articolo scientifico/Scientific paper

Rinvenimento di Verticillium dahliae su cece in Calabria

UGO DE CORATO

ENEA, Divisione Biotecnologie e Agricoltura, Centro Ricerche Trisaia, S.S. 106 Jonica Km. 419,500, I-75026 Rotondella (Matera)

In due località della Calabria (agro di Cosenza e di Crotone) è stata osservata una malattia del cece (Cicer arietinum L.) di natura vascolare. Le piante malate presentavano lievi e diffusi ingiallimenti, disseccamenti dei getti ascellari e colorazioni giallo-ocra del tessuto vascolare. Dalle piante infette è stato costantemente isolato Verticillium dahliae Kleb. Nel presente lavoro sono riportati i risultati di una ricerca eseguita allo scopo di saggiare la patogenicità di isolati di V. dahliae provenienti da cece e di selezionare genotipi di cece resistenti a V. dahliae. L’identificazione degli isolati di V. dahliae ottenuti da cece è stata eseguita sulla base di caratteri morfologici e colturali. La patogenicità di 4 isolati di V. dahliae ottenuti da cece e di 4 isolati dello stesso patogeno provenienti da pomodoro (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), cotone (Gossypium hirsutum L.), crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. et R. E. Fries) e fava (Vicia faba L.) è stata saggiata in serra su piante di cece, pomodoro, melanzana (Solanum melongena L.), crambe, fava e cotone. Gli stessi isolati di V. dahliae sono stati usati per saggiare in serra la resistenza di 6 genotipi di cece. I risultati della ricerca hanno mostrato che V. dahliae è responsabile degli episodi infettivi osservati, inoltre hanno evidenziato una polifagia degli isolati di V. dahliae saggiati, nonché l’esistenza di genotipi di cece dotati di una buona resistenza alla tracheomicosi.

Parole chiave: Verticillium dahliae, Avvizzimento, Cece, Genotipo, Calabria.

Occurrence of Verticillium dahliae on chickpea in Calabria (southern Italy)

A wilt disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was observed in two localities of southern Italy (Calabria). The diseased plants showed light yellowing of leaves, severe wilting and a yellow-ochraceus discoloration of the vascular tissue. The disease was associated with Verticillium dahliae Kleb. In this work we report the results of a research aimed at testing the pathogenicity of isolates of V. dahliae obtained from chickpea, and selecting chickpea genotypes resistant to V. dahliae. The identification of the isolates of V. dahliae obtained from chickpea was performed on the basis of morphological and cultural characters. The pathogenicity of 4 isolates of V. dahliae obtained from chickpea was tested in greenhouse on chickpea, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), abyssinian mustard (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. et R. E. Fries), broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants in comparison with 4 isolates of the same pathogen isolated from tomato, cotton, abyssinian mustard and broad bean. The resistance of 6 chickpea genotypes was tested in greenhouse using the same isolates of V. dahliae. The results of this research showed that V. dahliae is the cause of the symptoms observed and that this fungus is polyfagus. Moreover, among the chickpea genotypes tested, a different susceptibility at V. dahliae was observed.

Key words: Verticillium dahliae, Wilting, Chickpea, Genotype, Southern Italy.

Petria 11(1), 37-47 (2001) Articolo scientifico/Scientific paper

Isolamento di Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Cylindrocarpon destructans e Botryosphaeria obtusa da barbatelle di vite in Sicilia

AGATINO SIDOTI, ADRIANA MARIA SCANDURRA, MICHELE SALVATORE LONZI

Osservatorio per le Malattie delle Piante, Corso Umberto 114, I - 95024 Acireale (Catania)

È stata effettuata un’indagine in vivai della Sicilia orientale allo scopo di accertare la presenza di specie fungine implicate nella sindrome del “mal dell’esca” e del deperimento di giovani viti, in barbatelle pronte per essere poste a dimora e, quindi, il possibile ruolo che il materiale di propagazione può assumere nella diffusione di queste malattie in nuovi impianti. Assieme a microrganismi secondari sono stati isolati Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Cylindrocarpon destructans e Botryosphaeria obtusa, rispettivamente, dal 12,3%, 22,4% e 10,5% delle barbatelle esaminate. Le barbatelle colonizzate, al verificarsi di condizioni ambientali favorevoli per i patogeni, potrebbero andare incontro a fenomeni di deperimento già nei primi anni dopo l’impianto.

Parole chiave: Vitis vinifera L., “Mal dell’esca”, Materiale di propagazione.

Isolation of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Cylindrocarpon destructans and Botryosphaeria obtusa from rooted grapevine cuttings in Sicily.

An investigation has been carried out in some nurseries in eastern Sicily with the purpose to ascertain, in rooted cuttings ready to be planted, the presence of fungal species involved in the “esca disease”, the decline of young grapevines and the possible role that the propagation material can play in the spreading of these diseases in new plantings. Together with secondary micro-organisms, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Cylindrocarpon destructans and Botryosphaeria obtusa have been isolated, respectively, on 12,3%, 22,4% and 10,5% of the rooted cuttings. The colonized rooted cuttings, under particularly environmental conditions, could decline as from a few years after planting.

Key words: Vitis vinifera L., Grapevine decline, “Esca disease”, Propagation material.

Petria 11(1), 49-57 (2001) Nota breve/Short note

Osservazioni su un grave caso di ruggine del fico in Campania

BRUNO NANNI¹, FERDINANDO ZACCARIA¹, PAOLA SPIGNO², FABRIZIO MARZIANO¹

¹Dipartimento di Arboricoltura, Botanica e Patologia vegetale, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Università, 100, I-80055 Portici (NA)

²Se.S.I.R.C.A. (Servizio Protezione delle Piante), Napoli

È segnalato per la prima volta in provincia di Salerno un grave caso di ruggine del fico, malattia precedentemente considerata non molto dannosa. Sono descritti i sintomi della malattia, i caratteri morfo-biometrici e taluni aspetti tassonomici relativi al patogeno, identificato in Cerotelium fici, di cui è altresì riportata la diffusione in varie parti del mondo. Sono infine descritti gli aspetti fitoiatrici.

Parole chiave: Cerotelium fici, Fico, Ruggine

Observations on a severe outbreak of fig rust in Campania (Italy).

Severe symptoms of rust of the fig, a disease previously considered not very harmful, are reported for the first time in the province of Salerno (Southern Italy).Symptoms of the disease and morphological characters of the pathogen, identified as Cerotelium fici, are described and some taxonomic aspects are discussed. The spreading in the world of the fungus and some control measures are reported.

Key words: Cerotelium fici, Fig, Rust