Neocosmospora cucurbitae

Neocosmospora • Hypocreales • Sordariomycetes • Ascomycota • fungi • plant diseases • pests-diseases-weeds

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Neocosmospora cucurbitae - a-b) cultures, c-g) sporodochia, h-j) chlamydospores, k-m) aerial conidiophores, n) aerial conidia, o-s. sporodochial conidiophores and phialides, t) sporodochial conidia; scale bars: c, e, o = 100 μm; d, f–g = 50 μm; h–j = 5 μm; k = 20 μm; all others = 10 μm (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): M. Sandoval-Denis, L. Lombard and P.W. Crous
Source: Persoonia (2019), 43, p. 126

Neocosmospora cucurbitae Sand.-Den., L. Lombard & Crous 2019

This fungus is widely distributed and infects different Cucurbitaceae, causing root and crown rot, sometimes also fruit rot. Most cucurbits are susceptible. Infections can result in serious economic losses particularly in greenhouses. The pathogen survives for 2‒3 years in the soil, in the absence of susceptible hosts, and can be also seedborne (Mehl & Epstein, 2007). In some countries, no suitable fungicides are available for managing the pathogen (Roberti et al., 2012).

N. cucurbitae is part of the Fusarium solani species complex and has been referred to as Fusarium solani f.sp. cucurbitae race 1, before 2019. It is closely related to Neocosmospora petroliphila (previously race 2) which can also infect cucurbits but causes only fruit rot and is less common. The conidia of N. cucurbitae are rather narrow with elongated apical and foot cells.

Synonyms:
Fusarium solani f.sp. cucurbitae race 1

For a taxonomic review see Sandoval-Denis et al. (2019).