Vegetative disorders similar to those associated with the presence of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' (CaLsol) were observed in carrot plants in Kairouan, Tunisia from 2014 to 2016. Symptoms including leaf curling, yellowing, bronze and purplish discoloration, stunting of plants and roots, and proliferation of secondary roots, affected 20 to 40% of the carrots in some plots. In order to determine if these symptoms were associated with the presence of CaLsol, and/or 'Ca. Phytoplasma spp.' and/or Spiroplasma citri, real-time PCR analyses were conducted using specific primers for these pathogens. CaLsol was detected for the first time in Tunisia and for the first time its haplotypes D and E were detected co-infecting a carrot plant. Furthermore, three samples of carrot seed produced in Kairouan tested positive for the haplotype D, showing a high percentage (35 to 63%) of viable bacterial cells after treatment with propidium monoazide. However, all the tests were negative for 'Ca. Phytoplasma' spp. as well as for S. citri. The results highlight that several CaLsol haplotypes are emerging carrot pathogens in new areas.

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The pumpkin fly Dacus frontalis is reported in this paper for the first time in Tunisia, where it was found in several locations. It is a pest of cucurbits of economic importance and is common especially in the eastern and southern parts of Africa. D. frontalis was collected from infested cucumber fruits in the region of El‐Jebil (Kairouan) and female bait traps for the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata and the olive fly Bactrocera oleae. Preliminary data from Tunisia suggest that D. frontalis is already established in four regions in which cucurbits are important crops. Brief notes on the diagnostic features for the species, its ecology and geographic distribution are given. Symptoms on cucumber from Tunisia are presented.

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is an important and valuable fruit because of its unique flavor and economic, nutritional and health benefits. It is one of the most consumed berries worldwide. Grey mould of strawberry fruits, caused by the necrotrophic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr., is one of the most important diseases. This airborne pathogen has the ability to kill strawberry cells through the production of reactive oxygen species and toxins causing massive production losses at all development stages and even post-harvest. The intensive production of strawberries has created a favorable environment for this disease. Strawberry grey mould management is typically very input-intensive, in particular with respect to chemical fungicides. As a result, the integrated pest management is required to control strawberry grey mould. A thorough understanding of B. cinerea epidemiology and infection processes is needed to guide future efforts in the development of innovative integrated management practices. This review summarizes the current knowledge of taxonomy and morphology, signs and symptoms, disease development, infection process, and control of B. cinerea using integrated disease management.

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