FUNGI COLONIZING CARAWAY (Carum carvi L.) IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF CULTIVATION

Abstract

Repeated cultivation of caraway in the same agricultural regions creates favorable conditions to develop infectious diseases which reduce the quantity and quality of the herbal material. The aim of the present research was to determine the composition of fungi species colonizing different organs of caraway variety Konczewicki. Observations of plant healthiness were carried out, in the years 2011–2013, on plantations in the region of central and eastern Poland. The one-spore cultures of fungi were identified with good results on PDA or on standard media. A new fungus species Mycocentrospora acerina was detected for the first time in Poland. The fungus causes necrotic spots on the aboveground and underground parts of plants. An epidemic of caraway septoriosis caused by Septoria carvi occurred in the central region of Poland, during the hot and humid weather. At temperature reaching up to 28°C and low relative humidity an epidemic of powdery mildew Erysiphe heraclei appeared. Moreover, growing threat for caraway by Colletotrichum spp., causing anthracnosis as well as by soil fungi, i.e. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani was shown.

Keywords

• caraway
• healthiness of plants
• fungi
• cultivation
• identification