FIRST REPORT OF ROOT AND LOWER STEM ROT CAUSED BY FUSARIUM EQUISETI (CORDA) SACCARDO ON WHEAT AND RYE IN BULGARIA

Abstract

In May 2015, severe root rot symptoms were observed on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye plants (Secale cereale L.) in heading and flowering phenophases, grown on experimental fields in Institute for Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov” (Sadovo), Sauth Central Bulgaria. Examination of the symptomatic plants revealed root and lower stem rot. Isolations were made from sections of roots and basal stems of diseased wheat and rye plants on standard, nonselective media such as oatmeal (OA), potato dextrose (PDA) or water (WA) agar media. Plates were incubated at 25˚C in the dark for 7 days. Fusarium spp. isolates were readily obtained from all examined plants with disease symptoms as well as from symptomless plant roots. Observations on colony morphology and growth were made on WA, OA and PDA. On PDA mycelium was abundant that initially was white, but becomes brown with age.