Abstract

MOSHREFI ZARANDI, D; AMINAEE, MM; REZAEE, S  and  SHARZEI, A. First report of lemon verbena crown rot caused by Phytophthora cactorum in Iran. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2016, vol.85, n.2, pp.246-248. ISSN 1851-5657.

Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) is a medicinal plant from the Verbenacea family. Its plantation and medicinal use in Iran has risen greatly in recent years. Crown and root rot symptoms were observed on this plant in some farms and greenhouses of Kerman province during November 2012. The infected plants were taken to the laboratory. Then, samples of infected root tissues were removed and were surface sterilized with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and cultured onto CMA-PARPH medium. Based on morphological features, the isolated fungus was identified as Phytophthora cactorum. Pathogenicity test was performed using inoculated wheat seeds. To our knowledge this is the first report of Phytophthora cactorum on lemon verbena in Iran.

Keywords : Lippia citriodora; Phytophthora cactorum; Iran.