New information concerning Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis
Several papers on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) were presented at the 10th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, some new information is presented below.
1) The vascular wilt of Phoenix canariensis is caused by a distinct form, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis. It was first observed in France (1970), in Italy (1974), Japan (1977), California (US, 1976), Australia (1980), Morocco (1987), Canary islands (ES, 1987), and recently in Florida (US). Symptoms resemble those found on Phoenix dactylifera infected by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis, and it was once suggested that the disease on P. canariensis was caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis or that F. oxysporum f. sp. canariensis was closely related to and evolved from F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis. Genetic analysis (RFLP) carried out on a collection of several isolates of the two pathogens showed that they are distinct entities and that F. oxysporum f.sp. canariensis does not derive from F. oxysporum f.sp. albedinis (Fernandez et al., 1997).
2) A PCR method to identify F. oxysporum f.sp. albedinis has been developed by a collaboration between Morocco and France. Two pairs of primers have been selected and give satisfactory results when used together to detect all isolates of F. oxysporum f.sp. albedinis (Tantaoui et al.; 1997).
Sources
Fernandez, D.; Plyler, T.R.; Kistler, H.C. (1997) The Phoenix spp. pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis and F. oxysporum f.sp. canariensis are distinct genetic entities as evidenced by molecular markers.
Proceedings of the 10th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, 1997-06-01/05, Montpellier (FR), 195-197.
Tantaoui, A.; Ouiten, M.; Geiger, J.P.; Fernandez, D. (1997) Use of a PCR-based assay for specific identification of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis causing Bayoud disease of date palm in Morocco.
Proceedings of the 10th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, 1997-06-01/05, Montpellier (FR), 319-322.