Olive production has expanded strongly in the last twenty years in Uruguay. In this study, a collection of 37 Botryosphaeriaceae isolates obtained from stem canker and fruit rot symptoms in olive trees of six cultivars from 14 orchards throughout the country were characterized. Based on phylogenetic analysis of ITS and TEF-1α gene regions and phenotypical characteristics, eight species belonging to the genera Botryosphaeria (41%), Neofusicoccum (51%) and less frequently to Diplodia (8%) were identified. The recognized species were B. wangensis (n = 11), N. cryptoaustrale (n = 9), N. luteum (n = 7), B. dothidea (n = 4), N. occulatum (n = 2), D. seriata (n = 2), N. australe (n = 1) and D. mutila (n = 1). Isolates of all Botryosphaeriaceae species were able to cause typical necrotic lesions on inoculated olive stems of Arbequina cultivar under laboratory conditions, but those belonging to Neofusicoccum genus were significantly more aggressive. Five of the eight species found in this study were previously reported affecting other fruit and forestry trees in Uruguay; thus, further epidemiologic studies and management programmes should be developed considering all the Botryosphaeriaceae hosts, especially those cultivated in proximity. Also, we present B. wangensis, N. cryptoaustale, N. occulatum and D. mutila species as new records to olive worldwide.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L & Lamb) is an important crop for Uruguay, both for the number of producers participating in its production and the per capita consumption of the population. It is harvested between January and April, and it is commercialized after a conservation period that lasts until November. During this period some losses happen due to bad conservation, most of them for microbiological causes. One of the main problems is a dry, superficial, rounded, and slightly sunken rot that as elapses it can increase its size and eventually mummify the root. To identify the causative agent of these injuries, a directed sampling was conducted, and the samples were sent to the Diagnostic Clinic of the Phytopathology Unit of the Agronomy Faculty. Fungi with Fusarium oxysporum characteristic was frequently isolated from roots showing initial rot symptoms and its identity verified by morphological and molecular techniques. Pathogenicity tests were performed and, once the symptom was recorded, the causal relationship of F. oxysporum with respect to the observed symptoms was verified accomplishing Koch’s Postulates. This result contributes to the knowledge of the disease and to adapt management practices to reduce losses and the commercial quality of sweet potato in local conditions.
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