During June 2018, several symptomatic fig (Ficus carica) cuttings, showing twig blight, subcortical discolouration and apical dieback were collected from a nursery in Catania province, Sicily (Italy). Isolations from diseased tissue consistently showed the presence of the same fungal colony. Morphology of the fungal isolates together with sequence data of the nuclear rDNA internal transcriber spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) gene and partial beta-tubulin (tub2) gene of representatives isolates revealed the presence of the fungus Neofusicoccum parvum. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating fig cuttings with mycelial plugs. After 10 days, the inoculated plants developed cankers similar to those observed in the greenhouse and after 26 days all inoculated plants were dead. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of N. parvum causing disease on this host.

Avocado (Persea americana) represents an important emerging tropical crop in Italy, especially in the southern regions. In this study, young plants of avocado showing symptoms of stem and wood lesion, and dieback, were investigated. Isolations from symptomatic tissues consistently yielded colonies of Neopestalotiopsis-like species. The characterization of representative isolates was based on the observation of morphological characters, the effect of temperature on mycelial growth rate, and on the sequencing of three different gene regions, specifically ITS, TEF1, and TUB2. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood approaches. The results showed the presence of two species, viz. Neopestalotiopsis rosae and N. siciliana, the latter of which is here described as a new species. Pathogenicity tests were conducted using the mycelial plug technique on young potted avocado trees for both Neopestalotiopsis species. The results showed that both species were pathogenic to avocado. This study represents the first report of these two species affecting avocado and results in the description of a new species within the genus Neopestalotiopsis. Based on phylogeny, Pestalotiopsis coffeae-arabicae is combined in Neopestalotiopsis.

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) is an ever-increasing interest crop in Italy because it is mainly cultivated for its edible fruit and, secondly, as an ornamental evergreen climber. During the summer of 2020, two-year-old plants of purple passion fruit in one of the most important expanding production areas of Sicily (southern Italy) showed symptoms of yellowing, wilting, and vascular discoloration. Fusarium-like fungal colonies were consistently yielded from symptomatic crown and stem tissues. Five representative isolates were characterized by a morphological and molecular analysis based on a multilocus phylogeny using RNA polymerase’s second largest subunit (RPB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) genes, as Fusarium nirenbergiae (Fusarium oxysporum species complex). Pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy 1-year-old passion fruit cuttings revealed symptoms similar to those observed in the field. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium wilt on passion fruit caused by Fusarium nirenbergiae. This report focuses on the phytopathological implications of this fungal pathogen, which may represent a future significant threat for the expanding passion fruit production in Italy and Europe.

The Indian laurel-leaf fig (Ficus microcarpa) is an important ornamental tree widely distributed in the urban areas of Italy. Surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020 on several tree-lined streets, squares, and public parks in Catania and Siracusa provinces (Sicily, southern Italy) revealed the presence of a new disease on mature trees. About 9% of approximately 450 mature plants showed extensive branch cankers and dieback. Isolations from woody tissues obtained from ten symptomatic plants consistently yielded species belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family. The identification of the recovered fungal isolates was based on a multi-loci phylogenetic (maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood) approach of the ITS, tef1-α, and tub2 gene regions. The results of the analyses confirmed the presence of three species: Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum mediterraneum, and N. parvum. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on potted, healthy, 4-year-old trees using the mycelial plug technique. The inoculation experiments revealed that all the Botryosphaeriaceae species identified in this study were pathogenic to this host. Previous studies conducted in California showed similar disease caused by Botryosphaeriaceae spp., and the pathogenic role of these fungi was demonstrated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Botryosphaeriaceae affecting Ficus microcarpa in Europe.

Calonectria tunisiana. Crown and root rot. Eucalyptus globulus During autumn 2019, a widespread crown and root rot was observed in a commercial nursery in Catania province, Italy, on about 5000 potted 10-12 month-old plants of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. More than 15% of plants obtained from cutting showed brown to black necrotic lesions on crown, and root were decayed. Discolouration was observed under the bark. Diseased tissues of twenty plants were surface disinfected for 1 min in 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution, rinsed in sterile water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 100 mg/l of streptomycin sulfate, and then incubated at 25°C for seven days. Calonectria sp. was consistently isolated. Colonies surface and reverse sienna, developed sparse aerial mycelium with abundant cylindrical conidia, rounded at ends, 1-septate, 47 to 51 × 4 to 6 μm. Conidiophores were stipe septate, hyaline, smooth, 42-95 × 7-11 μm and phialides were doliiform to reniform, hyaline, aseptate, 8-13 × 3-5 μm. Chlamydospores were present. These morphological characteristics were consistent with the original description of C. tunisiana L. Lombard, G. Polizzi & Crous (Lombard et al. 2011). Part of tef1 gene of CAL-EU1 and CAL-EU2 isolates was amplified using EF1-728F and EF1-986R primers. The sequence data were deposited in GenBank (accession Nos. MT365928 and MT365929). The obtained tef sequences showed 100% identity with the tester isolate DISTEF-TME1 of C. tunisiana (JN607286). Pathogenicity test was conducted on 6-month-old cuttings of E. globulus. The inoculum consisted of mycelial plug inserted Publisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.