First report of fasciation symptom in Artemisia eriantha (Asteraceae), a typical orophyte of high-altitude cliffs, in Central Apennines (Italy)

Abstract

Artemisia eriantha Ten., also known as "Apennines genepì", is a valuable aromatic plant with several medicinal properties. Among the several phytoplasma symptoms to which this plant can be subjected, the fasciation is one of the less reported and studied. In natural environments this plant is a characteristic species of the association Artemisietum erianthae Brullo 1984. In this study, the first occurrence of fasciation in Artemisia eriantha is described. This phenomenon was observed during the ex vitro experimental cultivations, located in Assergi and Barisciano (L’Aquila, Italy), settled for the restocking of this endangered species. The fasciation occurred only in Assergi experimental field with a magnitude of 0.12%. Specific PCR analysis did not show the phytoplasma presence. This fist report allows to expand knowledge about fasciation in Apennines genepì.