Black ringspots in cauliflower in Italy

The occurrence of black ringspots disease in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) cv. Hypop in Puglia (South Italy) is reported. The symptoms of this viral disease are small necrotic ringspots on the leaves and growth reduction. The causal agent was identified by electron microscopy observations ('leaf-dip'), mechanical inoculations on test plants, I.E.M. ('decoration') and optical microscopy as turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) 'cabbage' strain. Mechanical inoculations to infect healthy cauliflower cv. Hypop and turnip (B. campestris L. var. rapa Hart.) cv. Bianca di Milano seedlings, were made. The results of this study indicate that the cv. Hypop is highly susceptible to infection by the TuMV 'cabbage' strain. This is the first report of black ringspots in Italy.