Surveys for Monilinia spp. on stone fruit in central-eastern Italy

The brown rot disease caused by Monilinia spp. is a serious disease causing significant losses on stone and pome fruits, both before and after harvest. Three species can be agent of brown rot on stone and pome fruit: M. laxa, M. fructigena and fructicola. Up to few years ago, M. laxa and M. fructigena were widespread in Italy, the first one mainly on stone fruit and the second one on pome fruit. During the period 2011-2014, samples from decayed stone fruit were collected from commercial orchards and local markets of Marche region, central-eastern Italy. Isolates were morphologically characterized and identified by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) procedure proposed by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). Most isolates were identified as M. laxa, and few isolates of M. fructigena from apricot and sweet cherries were found. Moreover, M. fructicola was found in sweet cherry samples collected during 2013 in Marche region, and this is a new report of this pathogen in the area. Further investigations are needed to assess the actual distribution of M. fructicola in central-eastern Italy.