Thesis supervisor: Géza Nagy
co-supervisor: Marietta Horváthné Petróczy
Location of studies (in Hungarian): MATE Abbreviation of location of studies: MATE
Description of the research topic:
The cultivation of peaches in Hungary has centuries-old traditions; however, over the decades, the technology of cultivation, including the use of varieties and rootstocks, has changed significantly. The dieback of shoots and twigs, as well as partial or complete tree decay, is a significant, long-known disease complex that complicates cultivation even at a young age of the trees. In some cases, the disease can remain latent for a shorter or a longer period. The symptoms can be caused by different pathogens infecting together or individually. According to the literature, symptoms can be induced by members of the Pseudomonas syringae species complex or by Ca. Phytoplasma prunorum, although our observations suggest that plant-pathogenic fungi (e.g., Cytospora species) are most likely responsible for these symptoms. Visual assessment alone is insufficient to definitively identify the pathogen or pathogens responsible primarily for the disease process.
The main goal of our study will be to uncover the dominance of the pathogens and the factors influencing their significance (e.g., role of variety/rootstock, role of cultivation technologies in orchards, or impact of the orchard’s environment) by nation-wide surveys, sampling and evaluation. The presence of pathogens will be confirmed by classical culturing and nucleic acid-based molecular methods (PCR, nested PCR).
Login
