Bedding Plant Production and the Challenge of Fungal Diseases

Abstract

Bedding plants are a major group of ornamentals produced in greenhouses or nurseries worldwide and planted outdoors. Their economic importance has increased continuously in the last four decades in both the United States and the European Union. These plants are subject to many diseases that can negatively impact their production and cultivation. The initial steps of production strongly influence the health status of these plants and, consequently, their aesthetic appeal, which is a strong requisite for consumers. Seeds, cuttings, other forms of propagative material, along with production systems and growing media can influence the phytosanitary status of the final product. In this paper, case studies of soil-borne and foliar diseases are presented together with preventive measures to achieve innovative disease management strategies. Quarantine restrictions and eradication measures are also discussed, in consideration of the high likelihood for ornamental plants to be long-distance vectors of new pathogens and pests.

Leaf anthracnose and defoliation of blueberry caused by Colletotrichum helleniense in Northern Italy

“…have been reported in association with anthracnose diseases on several fruit crops, where pre-and post-harvest fruit rots are the most common symptoms observed and the most investigated diseases (Dean et al, 2012). However, leaf spots also represent a serious threat to fruit production (Benjamin, 2018;Guarnaccia et al, 2021b). Necrotic leaf lesions caused by Colletotrichum have been reported on blueberry plants, resulting in defoliation and reduced berry yields (Retamales and Hancock, 2018).…”

Some Factors Affecting Vinca (Periwinkle) Root Rot Disease

“…Pathogenic fungi include Alternaria (leaf spot), Rhizoctonia solani (stem, crown, and root rot), and Phytophthora parasitica Dast., (foliar and stems). P. parasitica, soil-borne pathogen, caused serious losses and death in the periwinkle with reports from India and the United States (Nejat et al, 2015;Formica, 2015;Chase et al, 2018;Guarnaccia et al, 2021). Additionally, Fusarium root rot disease was reported in Taiwan (Chung et al, 1998).…”

Trichoderma atroviride Enhances Impatiens walleriana Hook. f Growth and Flowering in Different Growing Media

“…Bedding and garden plants represent an important market share of the floriculture industry as they are considered space-saving products, especially in some countries, such as the United States [1,2], where they accounted for 47% of the wholesale in 2018, considering the overall market of floricultural products [3]. Looking at the European market, the wholesale was worth 2.2 billion in 2019, with the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland achieving a 27% quota of production destined for the Extra-EU export Plants 2024, 13, 583 2 of 13 market [4].…”