Articles
Emerging diseases of almond crop in southern Spain
Article number
1406_44
Pages
307 – 312
Language
English
Abstract
Almond (Prunus dulcis) crop has traditionally been associated with rainfed systems in marginal areas in southern Spain.
However, there has been a shift in the last few years from traditional dry-farming systems to more intensive systems with optimum soil and climatic conditions which have shown an increase in yields.
These changes have led to a higher incidence of diseases that in traditional systems are considered secondary or unknown.
The incidence of almond diseases such as red leaf blotch, shot hole, blossom blight, and leaf curl caused by the fungal species Polystigma amygdalinum, Thyrostroma carpophilum, Monilinia laxa and Taphrina deformans, respectively, has increased in the last few years, with red leaf blotch and shot hole being the most prevalent.
In 2014, a major outbreak of anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) was detected in the provinces of Huelva and Seville.
Recently, an outbreak of bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni) was detected in Seville province, but it was eradicated following the protocol for a quarantine pathogen as directed by the EPPO. Since 2016, a new emerging complex-syndrome causing general tree decline has been observed frequently in new almond plantations.
Occasionally almond trees affected by Foamy canker have also been observed.
Although a broad diversity of fungi, Botryosphaeriaceae mainly, and bacteria have been isolated from woody tissues, the etiology of these complex diseases is still uncertain.
Finally, Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) has also been detected in the new almond plantings in southern Spain, causing wilt and branch dieback.
However, there has been a shift in the last few years from traditional dry-farming systems to more intensive systems with optimum soil and climatic conditions which have shown an increase in yields.
These changes have led to a higher incidence of diseases that in traditional systems are considered secondary or unknown.
The incidence of almond diseases such as red leaf blotch, shot hole, blossom blight, and leaf curl caused by the fungal species Polystigma amygdalinum, Thyrostroma carpophilum, Monilinia laxa and Taphrina deformans, respectively, has increased in the last few years, with red leaf blotch and shot hole being the most prevalent.
In 2014, a major outbreak of anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) was detected in the provinces of Huelva and Seville.
Recently, an outbreak of bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni) was detected in Seville province, but it was eradicated following the protocol for a quarantine pathogen as directed by the EPPO. Since 2016, a new emerging complex-syndrome causing general tree decline has been observed frequently in new almond plantations.
Occasionally almond trees affected by Foamy canker have also been observed.
Although a broad diversity of fungi, Botryosphaeriaceae mainly, and bacteria have been isolated from woody tissues, the etiology of these complex diseases is still uncertain.
Finally, Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) has also been detected in the new almond plantings in southern Spain, causing wilt and branch dieback.
Authors
C. Agustí-Brisach, A. López-Moral, M. Lovera, L.F. Roca, M.C. Raya, F. Luque, O. Arquero, A. Trapero
Keywords
field surveys, overview, plant diseases, Prunus dulcis, tree nuts
Groups involved
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