New apiaceous hosts of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in the Cerrado region of Brazil

Abstract

This paper reports for the first time in the Cerrado region of Brazil the occurrence of white mold caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in coriander (Coriandum sativum), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and Peruvian carrot (Arracacia xanthorrhiza). The disease was observed on coriander, in Cristalina, Goiás State, on parsley in Gama, the Federal District and on Peruvian carrot in Ibiá, Minas Gerais State. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the fungus S. sclerotiorum is the causal agent of the observed symptoms in these plants. The three isolates obtained from naturally infected plants were inoculated in coriander (cv. Verdão), parsley (cv. Lisa Gigante), Peruvian carrot (cv. Amarela de Senador Amaral) and carrot (cv. Forto Nantes) and they were pathogenic to these hosts. The fungus isolates were re-isolated from inoculated plants fulfilling Koch´s postulates and also confirming that S. sclerotiorum is a polyphagous pathogen.