FIRST REPORT OF ROOT AND LOWER STEM ROT CAUSED BY DRECHSLERA SOROKINIANA ON EINKORN IN BULGARIA

Abstract

In July 2014, severe root and stem base rot was observed on einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L.) crops grown commercially in the region of Slivnitsa (Western part of Bulgaria). Drechslera spp. isolates were readily obtained from all examined plants with disease symptoms as well as from symptomless root tissues and einkorn stubble. All obtained isolates were identifi ed as Drechslera sorokiniana (Sacc.) Subram. and Jain (syn. Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker) by microscopic observation of their morphological characteristics and showed additionally identical characteristics to known isolate of D. sorokiniana previously obtained from diseased wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. Pathogenicity of all D. sorokiniana isolates was confi rmed both in in vitro tests on germinating einkorn wheat seeds and in pot experiments with growing einkorn plants. Previously, the pathogen has been largely established on various cereal crops in Bulgaria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of D. Sorokiniana as a pathogen on root and lower stem plant parts of einkorn wheat in Bulgaria.