AUTHOR=Duduk Nataša , Vico Ivana , Kosovac Andrea , Stepanović Jelena , Ćurčić Živko , Vučković Nina , Rekanović Emil , Duduk Bojan 

TITLE=A biotroph sets the stage for a necrotroph to play: ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ infection of sugar beet facilitated Macrophomina phaseolina root rot

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1164035

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1164035

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>‘<italic>Candidatus</italic> Phytoplasma solani’ (stolbur phytoplasma) is associated with rubbery taproot disease (RTD) of sugar beet (<italic>Beta vulgaris</italic> L.), while <italic>Macrophomina phaseolina</italic> is considered the most important root rot pathogen of this plant in Serbia. The high prevalence of <italic>M</italic>. <italic>phaseolina</italic> root rot reported on sugar beet in Serbia, unmatched elsewhere in the world, coupled with the notorious tendency of RTD-affected sugar beet to rot, has prompted research into the relationship between the two diseases. This study investigates the correlation between the occurrence of sugar beet RTD and the presence of root rot fungal pathogens in a semi-field ‘<italic>Ca</italic>. P. solani’ transmission experiment with the cixiid vector <italic>Reptalus quinquecostatus</italic> (Dufour), in addition to naturally infected sugar beet in the open field. Our results showed that: (i) <italic>Reptalus quinquecostatus</italic> transmitted ‘<italic>Ca</italic>. P. solani’ to sugar beet which induced typical RTD root symptoms; (ii) <italic>Macrophomina phaseolina</italic> root rot was exclusively present in ‘<italic>Ca</italic>. P. solani’-infected sugar beet in both the semi-field experiment and naturally infected sugar beet; and that (iii) even under environmental conditions favorable to the pathogen, <italic>M</italic>. <italic>phaseolina</italic> did not infect sugar beet, unless the plants had been previously infected with phytoplasma.</p>