Fungal trunk diseases of fruit trees in Europe: pathogens, spread and future directions

Abstract

Production from crops of pome, stone fruit, nut, berry fruit, citrus, grapevine, and olive is increasingly threatened by fungal trunk diseases (FTD). These diseases and the consequent production losses are major problems. Many fungi (including Botryosphaeriaceae, Calosphaeriaceae, Diaporthaceae, Diatrypaceae, Nectriaceae, Phaeomoniellaceae, Pleosporaceae, Togniniaceae, Valsaceae) infect host wood, mainly through wounds and subsequent colonization of woody tissues, causing symptoms such as cankers, gummosis, wood rotting, blight and dieback. Propagative plant material, seedlings and fruit play a significant role in pathogen spread. Several abiotic factors (e.g. shifts in cultural practices and climate change) are involved in the disease development. This paper reviews recent literature on FTD of fruit crops, particularly focusing on the European status of pathogen occurrence. Case studies are described related to diseases of apple, citrus, grapevine, berry, nut and stone fruit, and olive trees. Aspects related to epidemiology and the increase in disease incidence along with the future perspectives on the FTD research are also discussed.

Preface

“…The review by Guarnaccia et al (2022) outlines the spread of wood colonizing pathogens affecting fruit crop trees and other woody hosts in the Mediterranean region. After the increasing importance of grapevine trunk diseases, a topic frequently addressed in Phytopathologia Mediterranea, this review summarizes the situation affecting many economically important Mediterranean crops.…”

First Report of Diplodia quercivora and Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme Associated with Cankers and Necrosis of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) in Declining Stands in Southern Italy

“…Emerging pathogens characterized by a considerable latency stage are usually difficult to detect [16,17]. Fungal trunk pathogens are classic examples of a very diverse group of microorganisms including well-studied endophytes and latent pathogens of woody plants that typically cause diseases associated with some type of stress [18]. The species belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family are among the most aggressive pathogens commonly described as endophytic fungi.…”

Modeling the Effect of Temperature on the Severity of Blueberry Stem Blight and Dieback with a Focus on Neofusicoccum parvum and Cultivar Susceptibility

“…Stem blight and dieback are common diseases that are seriously compromising the fruit quality and yield of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) orchards worldwide [1]. Several fungal species have been reported as putative causal agents of these diseases [2]. The species most frequently isolated from symptomatic blueberry plants belong to the Botryosphaeriaceae family or to the genus Diaporthe [2].…”