Abstract

RAMIREZ GIL, G  and  MORALES OSORIO, J.G. First report of Cylindrocarpon destructans (Zinss) Scholten affecting avocado (Persea americana Mill) seedling in Colombia. Rev. Protección Veg. [online]. 2013, vol.28, n.1, pp.27-35. ISSN 1010-2752.

In a visit to an avocado plantation located in the department of Antioquia in Colombia, seedlings with less than one month of being transplanted to the field were observed with leaf yellowing, leaf flaccidity, growth delay and root rot, symptoms associated with avocado wilt. Based on a field diagnosis, the diseased plants were subjected to the habitual treatment for Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, a pathogen commonly associated with the wilt, without a positive response. Samples were taken from these plants and transferred to the Plant Protection Laboratory of the National University of Colombia, headquarters Medellin, where they were processed and cultured on the semi-selective media for Phytophthora spp. V8-PARPH and V8-NARPH and acidified PDA (APDA) and V8 for fungi. Cylindrocarpon destructans (Zinss) Scholten was the fungus consistently isolated; in any case, P. cinnamomi was isolated. The isolate was inoculated in avocado plants, and they showed leaf yellowing, leaf flaccidity, growth delay and rotten roots, symptoms commonly observed in avocado wilt, and which, in addition, are similar to those reported for avocado black root rot disease. From the inoculated tissues, the same fungus could be re-isolated confirming Koch´s postulates. The results observed in this work suggested the presence of this disease in Colombia for the first time.

Keywords : Cylindrocarpon destructans; avocado root rot.

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