First report of Neocosmospora falciformis in Spain
In the framework of a research project, surveys were carried out in 2018 and 2019 to study soil fungal pathogens affecting cucurbit crops in Spain. Diseased melon (Cucumis melo) plants were observed in the localities of Carrizales (Elche, Alicante province) and La Punta (Valencia). Affected plants showed leaf yellowing, vascular rot at the root collar and stem base. In some cases, plant collapse and death was observed. However, the incidence of the disease in the surveyed areas was low. Laboratory analysis of symptomatic plant samples revealed the presence of Neocosmospora falciformis (=Fusarium falciforme). N. falciformis is a clinically important species (associated with infections in humans and animals), belonging to the Fusarium solani complex, which can be present in agricultural environments. There have been earlier reports of this fungus causing diseases on lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) in Brazil, soybean (Glycine max) in the USA, and Pinus maximinoi in Colombia. This is the first time that N. falciformis is detected in Spain on C. melo.
The pest status of Neocosmospora falciformis in Spain is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, at low prevalence.
Sources
NPPO of Spain (2019-06).
Chitrampalam P, Nelson B (2016) Multilocus phylogeny reveals an association of agriculturally important Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) 11, and clinically important FSSC 5 and FSSC 3 + 4 with soybean roots in the north central United States. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 109(2), 335-347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-015-0636-7
Herron DA, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Rodas CA, Marincowitz S, Steenkamp ET (2015) Novel taxa in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex from Pinus spp. Studies in Mycology 80, 131-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simyco.2014.12.001
Sousa ES, Melo MP, Mota JM, Sousa EMJ, Beserra Jr JEA, Matos KS (2017) First report of Fusarium falciforme (FSSC 3 + 4) causing root rot in lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in Brazil. Plant Disease 101(11), 1954-1954. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-17-0657-PDN