Triplex real-time qPCR for the simultaneous detection of species in woody crops and environmental samples.

Introduction: Species of fungi are relevant pathogens of almond causing trunk cankers, extensive gumming, necrosis of internal tissues and plant dieback and dead, threatening almond productivity. A novel triplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was designed for the simultaneous detection and quantification of , and the family.

Material And Methods: The method was validated in symptomatic and asymptomatic almond, avocado, blueberry and grapevine plants and in environmental samples, such as cropping soil and rainwater and in artificially inoculated trapped spores, demonstrating the same performance on several matrices.

Biocontrol of almond canker diseases caused by Botryosphaeriaceae fungi.

Background: Botryosphaeria dieback is a canker disease caused by fungal species of the Botryosphaeriaceae family that threatens almond productivity. The most common control measure to prevent canker development is the application of fungicides which are being phased out by European Union regulations. In the present study, two sets of bacterial strains were evaluated for their antifungal activity against pathogenic Botryosphaeriaceae species through in vitro and in vivo antagonism assays.

Duplex Real-Time PCR Assays for the Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Species Causing Canker Diseases in Woody Crops.

Woody canker diseases caused by fungi of the family are producing increasing losses in many economically important woody crops, including almond. To develop a molecular tool for the detection and quantification of the most aggressive and threatening species is of main importance. This will help to prevent the introduction of these pathogens in new orchards and to conveniently apply the appropriate control measures.

Wild Olive Genotypes as a Valuable Source of Resistance to Defoliating .

Resistance to the defoliating pathotype of has been evaluated in a pool of 68 wild genotypes of olive belonging to the SILVOLIVE collection. Resistance was evaluated by assessing symptom severity using a 0-4 rating scale, estimating the relative area under the disease progress curve (RAUDPC), determining the percentage of dead plants (PDP), and measuring the evolution of morphological parameters in inoculated plants over time. In addition, the density levels of in the stem of root-inoculated genotypes have been quantified by means of quantitative real-time PCR at 35 and 120 days after inoculation (dai).