Occurence of fungal diseases on lemon balm (Mellisa officinalis L.) and peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) in the region of Malopolska.
This paper presents the results of the researches carried out on the subject of the diseases on herbs such as lemon balm and peppermint focusing on the health status of the plants grown in the region of Malopolska. The field and laboratory research proved that perpetrators of the diseases on the examined plants were fungi species with the numerical majority. On lemon balm septoria leaf spot (Septoria melissae) was most often observed. Moreover, fungal genera of different taxonomic groups were detected. Alternaria, Epicoccum, Fusarium, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum occurred most often on the medicinal plant samples. The disease mint rust Puccinia menthae, has caused major problems for the peppermint growers. In the populations of fungi found on the diseased leaves the dominating were Alternaria, Epicoccum and Sphaceloma menthae. It has been stated that among all fungi isolated from lemon balm, the species Fusarium avenaceum had the highest pathogenicity to seedlings (80% of diseased seedlings). For peppermint plants the highest pathogenicity had species Epicoccum purpurascens, and caused 82% of diseased seedlings. Conducted evaluation of health status of plants showed that the lemon balm mean disease index was yearly differentiated and was the highest in 2003 (44.39). For peppermint, the highest disease index was in third year of cultivation (62.75) and was statistically higher than in previous years.
Szczeponek
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Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Science, Agricultural University of Kraków, Al. 29 Listopada 54, PL-31-425 Kraków, Poland.
Mazur
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D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000145:classification*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D011044:Poland