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International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
Date: Tue 29 Nov 2011
Source: FreshPlaza, Informacion.es report [edited] <http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=89612>
Spain: fungus destroys broccoli production
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In the Alicante region [Valencia community] growers have practically lost the harvest of this season of broccoli, one of the most important products of the region. The crop has been hit by a fungus called botrytis which makes the crop rot. 1800 hectares [about 4500 acres] have already been affected, with losses greater than half a million euros [about USD 665 000].
The broccoli season has begun just a few weeks ago, and if this situation is not solved in time it could lead to much greater economic losses for farmers. Weather conditions are conducive to appearance of the fungus.
The current agricultural insurance system does not cover this type of damage caused by plant diseases, and farmers have requested compensation and direct assistance from the Department of Agriculture.
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[_Botrytis cinerea_ causes grey mould on a wide range of hosts, including many crops such as brassicas and other vegetables, fruit crops, grapevine, and peanut.
In brassicas, yield losses of up to 40 percent have been reported.
Symptoms of typical grey fungal growth and softening of tissues may appear on all aerial parts of the plant, both in the field and in storage. The fungus usually enters via damaged tissues, for example following frost, tipburn, mechanical damage, or insect attacks, but can also affect undamaged tissues that are in contact with infected material. Affected areas are also more susceptible to invasion by bacterial soft rots. The disease is favoured by high humidity and poor ventilation within crops.
The fungus is spread by water, wind, mechanical means (including human and insect activities), and with plant debris. It can overwinter as mycelium in soil or plant debris, but sclerotia are formed for long term survival. Disease management may include cultural practices (such as field sanitation, good crop ventilation, avoiding plant damage), use of clean planting material, and fungicides as sprays or prestorage treatments.
Maps
Spain:
<http://www.map-of-spain.co.uk/large-map-of-spain.htm> and <http://healthmap.org/r/1utZ> Provinces and communities of Spain:
<http://www.data-spain.com/map.html>
Valencia community:
<http://www.rhinocarhire.com/CorporateSite/Media/Spanish-Traveller/Maps/Map-Of-Valencian-Community.jpg>
Pictures
Grey mould on cabbage:
<http://94.136.40.100/~church@actpub.co.uk/uploadimages/1176729082-vegstory251.png>
and
<http://www.brassicastoday.com/styles/imgs/a2cms-filemanager/paginas/1268-0.jpg>
Links
Information on grey mould of brassica crops:
<http://www.brassicastoday.com/en/grey-mould-can-lead-to-40-loss-in-stored-cabbage-newsc-268.aspx>
and via <http://archives.eppo.org/EPPOStandards/PP2_GPP/pp2-07-e.doc>
_B. cinerea_ diseases and hosts:
<http://urbanext.illinois.edu/focus/graymold.cfm>
_B. cinerea_ taxonomy:
<http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=217312>.
- Mod.DHA]
[see also:
2008
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Vegetable diseases - UK 20081225.4066
Bunch rots, grapevine - New Zealand 20080409.1298 Fungal diseases, grapevine - Australia, South Africa 20080310.0969
2005
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Botrytis blight, peanut - USA (GA) 20050820.2447 Gray mold, tomato - Mexico (Baja Calif): 1st report 20050419.1102]
Topics
Species
