Clubroot disease in Latin America: distribution and management strategies

Abstract

Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is an important disease of cruciferous crops worldwide. In Latin America (from Mexico to Chile, including the Caribbean), most of the area in cruciferous crops is devoted to oilseed rape (Brassica napus; c. 230 600 ha) in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, while cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts (40 900 ha) are cropped intensively on small acreages across the region. Although clubroot is present in most Latin American countries, there have been very few studies of P. brassicae. Clubroot research in Latin America has focused mainly on adapting disease management strategies developed in temperate climates to tropical climates, including liming, biological control and genetic resistance. This review summarizes the management strategies used in Latin America to reduce the impact of clubroot, including novel strategies when compared with temperate regions, such as a crop rotation with aromatic plant species and the use of biological control with Trichoderma spp. Latin America has unique characteristics relative to temperate countries such as high humidity, warm temperatures and acidic soil that impact the interaction between P. brassicae and its plant hosts, so more research is required.

The architecture of the Plasmodiophora brassicae nuclear and mitochondrial genomes

“…This plasmophorid pathogen attacks roots of numerous cruciferous plant species resulting in typical swollen roots (clubs or galls), giving rise to the disease name. The clubroot disease has been known about 100 years, and is now present in more than 60 countries worldwide 4–6 . P. brassicae is an obligate biotroph and has a strict requirement of host tissue for growth and multiplication.…”

Trichoderma harzianum Inoculation Reduces the Incidence of Clubroot Disease in Chinese Cabbage by Regulating the Rhizosphere Microbial Community

“…brassicae consumes carbohydrates from the viable cells in galls, causing the galls to become sinks for nutrients [ 5 , 6 ]. This significantly alters the morphology, development, and physiology of the diseased plants [ 7 ], and leads to substantial yield loss [ 3 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Country-Wide qPCR Based Assessment of Plasmodiophora brassicae Spread in Agricultural Soils and Recommendations for the Cultivation of Brassicaceae Crops in Poland

“…Since then, canola/rapeseed cultivation has expanded significantly. It was confirmed that clubroot is present in Australia and Oceania, Europe, Asia, and the Americas [ 57 , 58 ], but the exact sites affected by the disease are not always reported. Field tests for the presence of P. brassicae spores have been carried out in countries including Canada [ 59 ], Sweden [ 60 ], Germany [ 16 ], United Kingdom [ 61 ], and the Czech Republic [ 62 ].…”