Proceedings of the 7 th CMAPSEEC Original scientific paper

FIRST RECORD OF POWDERY MILDEW ON CAMOMILE IN SERBIA

Stojanovi ć D. Saša 1, Pavlovi ć Dj. Snežana 2, Starovi ć S. Mira 1, Stevi ć R.Tatjana 2, Joši ć LJ. Dragana 3

1 Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Teodora Drajzera 9, Belgrade, Serbia 2 Institute for Medical Plant Research, «Dr Josif Pan čić», Tadeusa Koscuskog 1, Belgrade, Srbia 3 Institute for Soil Science, Teodora Drajzera 7, Belgrade, Serbia

SUMMARY German c hamomile ( Matricaria recutita L .) is a well-known medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family which has been used since ancient times as folk drug with multitherapeutic, cosmetic, and nutritional values. On the plantation (14 hectares) located in northern Serbia (Pancevo), as well as on the wild plants in the vicinity of Belgrade, the powdery mildew was observed on all green parts of chamomile plants in spring during 2010 and 2011. The first symptoms were manifested as individual, circular, white spots of pathogens mycelium formed on the surface of stem and both sides of the leaves. Later on, the spots merged and dense mycelia completely covered all parts of infected plants. The consequence of this disease is the destruction of foliage, which prevents obtaining of high-quality herbal products for pharmaceutical purposes. Based on the morhological characteristics the pathogen was determined as Golovinomyces cichoracearum (syn. Erysiphe cichoracearum ). It is already known as a pathogen of chamomile, but for the first time is described in Serbia.

Key words: chamomile , Matricaria recutita , disease, powdery mildew , Golovinomyces cichoracearum

INTRODUCTION German chamomile ( Matricaria recutita L ) is one of the most favored medicinal plants in the world. It is native to southern and eastern Europe, though naturalized as a weed throughout North America [1]. Chamomile has been used since ancient times as folk drug with multitherapeutic, cosmetic, and nutritional values. Over centuries, the popularity of these plants increased and spread to different parts of the world and it has been cultivated in many temperate countries including German, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, Russia, ex Yugoslavia, Brazil, Kashmir, Lebanon, Argentina and Colombia, northern Africa, Asia, and the United States [1, 2]. In Serba, chamomile is cultivated at more than 500 ha with tendency of increasing areas with this plant. At plantations of the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research, Belgrade, chamomile is cultivated at 14 ha in vicinity of the city Pancevo, (about 20 km north from Belgrade). On the plantation in Pancevo, as well as on the wild plants in found in vicinity of Belgrade, the powdery mildew was observed on all green parts of chamomile plants in spring during 2010 and 2011. The disease symptoms and morphological characteristics of the pathogen are presented in this article.

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Proceedings of the 7 th CMAPSEEC MATERIAL AND METHODS The chamomile plants with symptoms were collected from Apri, when the first symptoms appeared, till the end of the vegetation season. Microscopic examination of morphological characteristics was done using Olympus microscope at 1000 x magnification. Dimensions of the reproductive structures were obtained by measuring 50 chasmothecia and asci and 100 ascospores and conidia. Photos were made by Olympus digital camera.

RESULTS AND DISCUSION The first symptoms were manifested as individual, circular, white spots of mycelium formed on the surface of stem and both surfaces of the leaves. Later on, white mycelial structure completely covered the whole plant including the inflorescence (Fig. 1-3). Infected leaves become chlorotic and wither. The consequence of this disease is the destruction of foliage, which prevents obtaining the high-quality herbal products for pharmaceutical purposes.

Figure 1-3: Stems and leaves of Matricaria chamomilla infected with Golovinomyces cichoracearum

Long conidiophores produced 2-(5)-6 ellipsoid, hyaline conida (Fig. 4), of 28- 44 x 15-25 µm, without distinct fibrosin bodies. Chasmothecia are formed in the mid-May,. mainly on stems and adaxial surface of the leaves. They are pale yellow in the beginning, later on turn to dark brown, scattered or grouped, sphaerical, of 94-144µm in diameter (Fig. 5). The appendages are mycelioid hyaline. Up to 12 asci (Fig. 6), of 52-68 x 30-46 µm, with two ascospores are formed in chasmothecia. Ascospores were ellipsoid, of 20 −30 x 16− 18 µm. Based on these characteristics, this fungus was identified as Golovinomyces cichoracearum (syn. Erysiphae cichoracearum ) [3]. The following fungi are known to attack the chamomile: Albugo tragopogonis , Cylindrosporium matricariae , Erysiphe cichoracearum , E. polyphage , Helicobasidium purpureum , Plysmopara leptosperma , P. radii , Phytophthora cactorum , Puccinia anthemedis , P. matricaiae , Septoria chamomillae , Sphaerotheca macularis, Stemphylium botryosum and Fusarium spp [1, 2, 4]. Species from the genera Fusarium (F. verticilliodes ), Aspergillus, Alternaria and Penucillium were identified on commercial chamomile seeds [5]. Besides damaging the cultivated crop of chamomile, fungi from the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Rhizopus also cause extensive damage to the dry flowers during

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Proceedings of the 7 th CMAPSEEC storage and reduce the quality of the dried raw product. Also, there is a risk that the stored product will be contaminated with mycotoxins, which are a health hazard [2].

Fig. 4-6. Golovinomyces cichoracearum. Conidia (Fig. 4); Chasmothecia formed on infected stem (Fig. 5); Immature asci (Fig.6)

Two powdery mildew pathogens ( Podosphaera fusca /Sphaerotheca fusca, S. fuliginea/ and Golovinomyces cichoracearum /syn. Erysiphe cichoracearum/ ) have been reported on Matricaria recutita [3]. The first pathogen has been recorded in Canada, Egypt, Germany, Switzerland, USSR, Japan and another one is a rather common chamomile powdery mildew species in Europe and Japan [5]. This article is the first report of powdery mildew on chamomile caused by G. cichoracearum in Serbia.

CONCLUSION The powdery mildew was observed on all green parts of cultivated German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L .) in Pancevo, as well as on the wild plants collected from sites in the vicinity of Belgrade, in the spring during 2010 and 2011. The first symptoms were manifested as individual, circular, white spots of pathogens mycelium formed on the surface of stem and both sides of the leaves. The consequence of this disease is the destruction of foliage, which prevents obtaining the high-quality herbal products for pharmaceutical purposes. Based on morhological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Golovinomyces cichoracearum (syn. Erysiphe cichoracearum ). This fungus species is already known as the pathogen of German chamomile, but for the first time is described for Serbia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia, through Projects TR-31018 and III46007.

REFERENCES 1. Richard Alan Miller R, A. (1999): A Farm Project: CHAMOMILE – GERMAN. http://www.nwbotanicals.org/oak/altagri/chamgerm.htm

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Proceedings of the 7 th CMAPSEEC 2. Singh O, Khanam Z, Misra N, Srivastava MK. Chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla L.): An overview. Phcog Rev 2011;5:82-95 3. Braun U, 1987. A Monograph of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews). Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia 89, 1- 700. 4. Plescher A. (2005): Abiotic and Biotic Stress Affecting the Common Chamomile ( Matricaria recutita L.) and the Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L. syn. Anthemis nobilis L.). In: Heinz Schilcher and Rolf Franke (eds): Chamomile Industrial Profiles. CRC Press 5. Pavlovic Snezana and Draži ć S. (2000): Microflora of chamomile seeds [ Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch.]: Proceedings from the First Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Southeast European Countries, Eds: Dragana Sekulovi ć, Srboljub Maksimovi ć, Jan Kišgeci, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr Josif Pan čić” and FPAGRI, Belgrade, pp 269-274. 6. Park, M.J., Y.J. Choi, J.G. Han and H.D. Shin (2010): First report in Korea of powdery mildew of Matricaria chamomilla caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum. Plant Pathology, 59, 801

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