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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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