engleski

Pathogenicity of fungi isolated from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Dalmatia

Pomegranate is a fruit species traditionally grown as a fruit or ornamental tree in gardens in coastal Croatia but is rarely grown commercially. For cultivation of pomegranate, knowledge of diseases in its current population is important. Previously in Dalmatia, it was found that majority of pomegranate trees show symptoms of wood disease and wood of surveyed trees is infected with fungi Cytospora punicae, Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp. and Aspergillus sp.. To determine pathogenicity of these fungi and fulfill Koch’s postulates, pathogenicity trials were conducted on 1-year-old pomegranate trees (cultivars Glavaš and Barski slatki) by means of artificial stem inoculation. Five plants of each cultivar were inoculated by mycelium of either one of five representative isolates of C. punicae or by one isolate of other said fungi. Ten plants inoculated by sterile agar media were used as control. Nine months after inoculation, dimensions of wood necroses were measured and reisolations of fungi were attempted on treated plants. Only the isolates of C. punicae consistently caused wood necroses that were significantly larger compared to control, with reisolation success >90%. No significant difference in virulence between C. punicae isolates nor sensitivity to this pathogen of the two tested pomegranate cultivars was determined. C. punicae is concluded as weak to moderate pathogen of pomegranate and main cause of its dieback in Dalmatia.

pomegranate, Punica granatum, Cytospora punicae, pathogenicity

nije evidentirano