Callistemon citrinus and Cistus salvifolius, Two New Hosts of Phytophthora taxon niederhauserii in Italy
Authors: Cacciola S. O. , Scibetta S. , Pane A. , Faedda R. , Rizza C. 
Published: September 2009

Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus (Curtis.) Skeels., Myrtaceae) and rock rose (Cistus salvifolius L., Cistaceae) are evergreen shrubs native to Australia and the Mediterranean Region, respectively. In the spring of 2003, approximately 2% of a nursery stock of 12-month-old potted plants of C. citrinus and 8% of a nursery stock of 12-month-old potted plants of Cistus salvifolius grown in the same nursery in Sicily, showed symptoms of leaf chlorosis, defoliation, and wilt associated with root and collar rot. A Phytophthora species was consistently isolated from roots and basal stems on BNPRAH selective medium (2). One isolate from rock rose (IMI 391708) and one from bottlebrush (IMI 391712) were characterized. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), the colonies showed stoloniform mycelium and irregular margins; on V8 juice agar (V8A), colonies were stellate to radiate. Minimum and maximum temperatures on PDA were 10 and 35°C, respectively, with the optimum at 30°C. Mean radial growth rate of isolates on this substrate was 9.9 and 11.3 mm/day, respectively. In saline solution (1), both isolates produced catenulate hyphal swellings and ellipsoid, nonpapillate, persistent sporangia with internal proliferations and dimensions of 52 to 70 × 30 to 42 μm and 51 to 85 × 39 to 45 μm. Mean l/b ratio of sporangia for both isolates was 1.8 ± 1. On V8A plus β-sytosterol, both isolates produced amphyginous antheridia and spherical oogonia in dual cultures with an A2 tester of P. drechsleri Tucker. Conversely, they did not produce gametangia with an A1 tester of P. cryptogea Pethybr., indicating they were A1 mating type. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-rDNA sequences of rock rose and bottlebrush isolates showed 100% similarity with those of two reference isolates of P. taxon niederhauserii from GenBank (Accession Nos. FJ648808 and FJ648809). On the basis of the analysis of the DNA, the species isolated from bottlebrush and rock rose were identified as Phytophthora taxon niederhauserii. Pathogenicity tests were carried out on 6-month-old potted plants of C. salvifolius and C. citrinus (10 plants of each plant species for each isolate) transplanted into pots (12 cm in diameter) containing a mixture of 1:1 steam-sterilized, sandy loam soil (vol/vol) with 4% inoculum produced on autoclaved kernel seeds. Plants were maintained at 25 to 28°C and watered to soil saturation once a week. After 2 to 3 weeks, all inoculated plants developed symptoms identical to those observed on plants with natural infections. Ten control plants transplanted into pots containing noninfested soil remained healthy. P. taxon niederhauserii was reisolated solely from inoculated plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. taxon niederhauserii on C. citrinus and C. salvifolius in Italy. This Phytophthora taxon has been reported recently on rock rose in Spain (3).

References: (1) D. W. Chen and G. A. Zentmyer. Mycologia 62:397, 1970. (2) H. Masago et al. Phytopathology 67:425, 1977. (3) E. Moralejo et al. Plant Pathol. 58:100, 2009.