European Journal of Plant Pathology (2011) 131, 705-717

Hanneke Huvenne, Jane Debode, Martine Maes and Kurt Heungens (2011)
Real-time PCR mediated monitoring of Fusarium foetens in symptomatic and non-symptomatic hosts
European Journal of Plant Pathology 131 (4), 705-717
Abstract: Fusarium foetens is a recently described aggressive vascular pathogen of Begonia x hiemalis. Since 2004, it has caused severe losses for Begonia growers in Northern Europe and North America. F. foetens is likely to be of exotic origin. Little is known about the accumulation of the fungus in Begonia plants before and during symptom expression and about its host range. We have optimised a molecular detection method for F. foetens by only using the plant part containing the largest amount of the pathogen and by optimising the tissue maceration and DNA extraction techniques. This allowed a reliable detection limit of 2310 spore equivalents per plant and a theoretical detection limit of as low as 84 to 167 spore equivalents per plant. Using this method, we demonstrated exponential accumulation of F. foetens DNA in Begonia roots, resulting in symptoms at a threshold of approximately 10⁷ spore equivalents and levelling off at 10⁹ spore equivalents per plant. The observed rate of accumulation and the amount of pathogen DNA in non-symptomatic plants can be combined to determine whether the cuttings were infected after delivery at the Begonia nursery and to calculate the estimated timing of symptom development. To test the host range, we applied the optimised molecular detection technique. During these tests, only Begonia x hiemalis plants became symptomatic, but many other plant species supported growth of the pathogen. This information can be used to aid pathogen control and has implications for pest risk assessment.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Kurt Heungens, Martine Maes, Jane Debode

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium foetens	Begonia (crop)