Abstract
Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) represents a relevant crop which production has largely increased worldwide during the last decade. Cane blight is one of the most common diseases of red raspberry and it can produce considerable losses. During 2019–2021, surveys were conducted in red raspberry orchards in Cuneo province, Northern Italy, to investigate the etiology and pathogen diversity in association with cane blight. Eleven isolates were collected from symptomatic plants of the cultivars ‘Diamond Jubilee’ and ‘Grandeur’, and were identified through multi-locus phylogenies and morphological features. Three fungal species were identified: Paraconiothyrium fuckelii, Diaporthe eres and Neocosmospora parceramosa. Four different genomic regions were included in the molecular analyses: ITS, tef1, tub2 and rpb2. The species pathogenicity was confirmed and P. fuckelii was revealed as the most aggressive. This study provides an insight into raspberry cane blight in Italy and the genomic loci sequencing lay the basis to develop specific diagnostic protocols to monitor the presence of pathogens and to prevent disease spread, adopting effective integrated control strategies.
Highlights
Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L., Rosaceae) is a deciduous shrub with a biennial cane habit
Sequences generated in this study indicated in red. * Isolates used for phenotypic characterization and pathogenicity test identification was achieved through DNA amplification and sequencing of a combined dataset of genes: the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, partial regions of the β-tubulin, translation elongation factor-1α and RNA polymerase second largest subunit genes
Phylogenetic analyses, and conidia characteristics, D. eres was isolated from plant of the cultivar ‘Diamond Jubilee’, whilst P. fuckelii and N. parceramosa were isolated from both ‘Diamond Jubilee’ and ‘Grandeur’ plants
Summary
Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L., Rosaceae) is a deciduous shrub with a biennial cane habit. Raspberry cultivars can be primocane and floricane based on their fruiting habit (Martin et al 2017). Primocane raspberries produce fruit during the fall of the first year and during the summer of the second year after plantation. Floricane fruiting raspberries produce berries only on the second year of growth. Primocane cultivars offer the convenience to extend the cropping season, with reduction of costs and higher fruit quality. Different breeding programmes were conducted worldwide to promote the use of these cultivars and to increase yield, fruit
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
