Verticillium albo-atrum

Verticillium albo-atrum is a soil-borne fungus that is known to cause Verticillium wilt, a serious disease in a wide range of plants. This fungus is a member of the Verticillium genus, which includes other plant pathogens such as Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium longisporum.

Taxonomy

Verticillium albo-atrum belongs to the Fungal kingdom, specifically within the Ascomycota phylum. It is part of the Hypocreales order and the Nectriaceae family. The genus Verticillium contains around 10 species, with V. albo-atrum being one of the most well-known due to its impact on agriculture.

Morphology

Verticillium albo-atrum is characterized by its hyphae, which are highly branched and septate. The fungus produces conidia in chains, which are borne on conidiophores that arise from the hyphae. The conidia are hyaline, single-celled, and elliptical in shape.

Pathogenicity

Verticillium albo-atrum is a hemibiotroph, meaning it spends part of its life cycle as a biotroph, living in the host plant without killing it, and part as a necrotroph, killing and then living off the dead tissue. The fungus enters the plant through the roots and colonizes the xylem, causing wilting and death of the plant.

Control

Control of Verticillium albo-atrum is challenging due to its ability to survive in the soil for many years as microsclerotia. Strategies for control include the use of resistant cultivars, crop rotation, and soil fumigation. However, these methods are not always effective, and research is ongoing to develop more effective control strategies.

See also

• Verticillium wilt
• Verticillium dahliae
• Verticillium longisporum
• Plant pathology