SYMPTOMLESS RESERVOIRS OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM f. sp. FRAGARIAE AND ALTERNATIVE HOSTS OF FUSARIUM SOLANI PATHOGENIC TO STRAWBERRY

Abstract

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and F. solani are soilborne fungal pathogens in strawberry crops in southwestern Spain. The pathogenicity of isolates recovered from strawberry plants was determined in three important regional crops, garlic, asparagus and tomato. In addition, F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae , F. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi, and F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici were assessed for pathogenicity in strawberry plants. G arlic, asparagus, and tomato were shown to be symptomless reservoirs of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae although mild symptoms were shown in plants inoculated in test tubes. So, these species could serve as carriers and source of inoculum of this pathogen. Similarly, strawberry was shown to be a symptomless reservoir of F. oxysporum pathogenic to garlic, asparagus, and tomato, also causing mild symptoms in plantlets inoculated in test tubes. However, F. solani pathogenic for strawberry infected and caused disease on garlic, asparagus, and tomato, demonstrating that the host range of F. solani is not limited to one crop. Agronomic implications such as avoiding rotations involving these horticultural species are discussed.