Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae: addition to the EPPO Alert List
A fusarium wilt of lettuce caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae was first described in Japan in 1955. Its presence was then reported from other Asian countries: Iran in 1995, Taiwan in 1998, and the Republic of Korea in 2006. The disease was also discovered in the USA, first in the San Joaquin Valley of California in 1990, and in Arizona in 2001. Although it is not known why the disease appeared in the USA, it was suspected that the pathogen was transported from California to Arizona on soil adhering to agricultural machinery. In Europe, F. oxysporum f.sp. lactucae was detected for the first time in Italy in 2002. Diseased lettuce crops were observed in the region of Lombardia (provinces of Bergamo and Brescia) and later in Piemonte, Veneto and Emilia Romagna (provinces of Forlí-Cesena and Rimini). In 2004, the disease was also reported from Portugal. Today, 3 different races of the fungus have been described in Japan (for the moment, only race 1 has been found in Italy, USA and Taiwan), considering the fact that the greatest diversity was observed in Japan, it is suspected that Asia could be the centre of origin of this pathogen. Because F. oxysporum f.sp. lactucae is an emerging disease in several parts of the world which can cause crop losses, the Panel on Phytosanitary measures suggested that it should be added to the EPPO Alert List.
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae, a fusarium wilt of lettuce
Why: A wilt disease of lettuce caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae was first described in Japan in 1955. This disease was then detected in other Asian countries, in the USA (California and later in Arizona, which are the main lettuce-growing areas of the country) and finally in Europe (Italy and Portugal). Because this fusarium wilt of lettuce is apparently spreading across different continents and causing significant economic losses, especially in the highly profitable sector of pre-processed lettuce, the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures suggested its addition to the EPPO Alert List.
Where:
EPPO region: Italy (first found in 2002 in Lombardia, and then in Piemonte, Veneto and Emilia Romagna), Portugal (found in 2004 in Entre Douro e Minho).
Asia: Iran (1995), Japan (1955; Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu), Korea Republic (Gyeonggi Province in 2006), Taiwan (1998).
North America: USA (Arizona in 2001, California in 1990).
On which plants: Lactuca sativa and Valerianella locusta (lamb’s lettuce). Most cultivar groups of lettuce, such as butterhead, iceberg, oak leaf, romaine, Batavia, are susceptible to the disease. In Northern Italy, outbreaks mainly occurred on spring and summer leaf lettuce, particularly on cultivars belonging to the Batavia type and grown for the production of pre-processed lettuce.
Damage: Affected plants show leaf yellowing and wilting. Crown tissues and upper roots usually show a reddish brown necrosis followed by decaying. Vascular necrosis can often be seen on leaf veins. Infected plants are stunted and often die, resulting in significant losses for the growers. In Northern Italy, F. oxysporum f.sp. lactucae is considered as one of the limiting factors for commercial production of lettuce during the summer season, particularly when lettuce is grown as a monoculture (e.g. in the production of pre-processed lettuce). In Italy, up to 70% losses in contaminated lettuce fields have been observed. Under favourable climatic conditions (the optimum soil temperature is between 24-28°C), infection may lead to total destruction of the crop. In many cases, growers have been obliged to stop growing lettuce on infested plots.
Transmission: F. oxysporum f.sp. lactucae is a soil-borne disease. It is thought that the fungus penetrates the plants via natural apertures or wounds on the roots, and that its clamydospores can remain viable in the soil or on plant debris for a long time. In addition, studies carried out in Italy have showed that this fusarium wilt was also transmitted through seeds.
Over long distance, it is considered that the most important mode of transmission is through infected seeds, and it is hypothetized that the disease was introduced in this way into Europe. Over smaller distances (i.e. within a country or region) infected transplants can rapidly spread the disease, and on a smaller scale (from field to field) the disease is probably spread by soil attached to machinery, agricultural tools, water, and plant debris.
Pathway: Plants for planting and seeds of Lactuca sativa and Valerianella locusta, soil attached to plants or machinery. The risk of spreading the disease via infected vegetables seems very low but cannot be totally excluded (in particular, more information would be needed to assess the risk of spreading the disease while processing lettuce for the final consumers and whether infected plant debris or soil might be released into the environment).
Possible risks: Lettuce is an important vegetable crop in the EPPO region (the main producers are Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom) and its commercial production is increasing. In most areas where F. oxysporum f.sp. lactucae has emerged, economic losses have been observed. Although data is lacking on its potential of establishment in other European countries, its presence in Italy and Portugal strongly suggests that the fungus has the potential to establish in many lettuce-growing areas. In general, control of soilborne diseases is difficult. In the case of F. oxysporum f.sp. lactucae, research is being carried out on the effects of crop rotation (probably 5 years without lettuce crops would be necessary), crop management (e.g. planting dates), soil disinfection (e.g. solarization), use of tolerant/resistant cultivars, and of biological control measures (e.g. Streptomyces griseoviridis, Trichoderma harzianum and hypovirulent strains of Fusarium). The fact that the fungus is seed-transmitted adds to the risk of spreading the disease across continents. It is thought that the use of healthy planting material (seeds, transplants) produced in the framework of certification schemes would probably be an essential tool to prevent further spread of the disease through trade.
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EPPO RS 2009/179
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Panel review date: -
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Entry date 2009-09
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Sources
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