EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact
EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact
EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact
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SESSION 4: GENETICS OF HOSTS – PLANT RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM,<br />
VARIETY DEVELOPMENT<br />
P107 - Fusarium wilt and its implications on alfalfa<br />
perenniality<br />
E. Petrescu<br />
National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea<br />
E-mail: nuti_petrescu85@yahoo.com<br />
In alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeding the main objectives are improve yielding,<br />
increase forage quality and levels <strong>of</strong> disease resistance.<br />
Alfalfa diseases result from the interactions between susceptible alfalfa cultivars,<br />
pathogens, a conducive environment, and occasionally from improper crop<br />
management practices. Alfalfa diseases can reduce yields, reduce forage quality,<br />
destroy stands, decrease perenniality, increase susceptibility to winter kill and<br />
other biological and environmental stresses.<br />
Developing varieties resistent to different kind <strong>of</strong> diseases is the most important<br />
alfalfa breeding objective around the world, including Romania. Alfalfa crops may<br />
be affected by different groups <strong>of</strong> pathogens causing specific symptoms as it<br />
follows: crown and root rot diseses, wilts and foliar diseases. Above the second<br />
group, Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis is the<br />
most important one.<br />
This is a soilborne, necrophitic, plant pathogenic fungus with many species that<br />
cause serious plant crop losses in the world. The fungus can survive in the soil<br />
as mycelium or as spores in the absence <strong>of</strong> its host. If a host is present, mycelium<br />
from germinating spore penetrates the host roots, enters the vascular system<br />
(xylem) in which it moves and multiplies, and causes the host to develop wilting<br />
symptoms. This is <strong>of</strong>ten a chronic condition, causing the plant to slowly decline.<br />
The disease usually occurs in two or more years stands and the most favourable<br />
conditions are: wet soils for long periods, frequently cutting and susceptible<br />
cultivars.<br />
The present paper reports the etiology, pathogenicity, morphology and the culture<br />
media characteristics <strong>of</strong> Fusarium wilt pathogene.<br />
The paper also represents the first step <strong>of</strong> a future project regarding the<br />
development <strong>of</strong> screening methodology and identifying the resistance sources to<br />
Fusarium wilt in Romanian alfalfa breeding material.<br />
Keywords: Alfalfa, Fusarium wilt, perenniality<br />
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