Host Range of Verticillium dahliae in Cultivated Species in Crete

To determine the host range of Verticillium dahliae among the cultivated species in Crete, Greece, studies were carried out during 1992-2000. Based on disease symptoms observed on 28 vegetable and forage species grown in a field naturally infected by V. dahliae, and an extensive survey of the most common cultivated species grown under natural conditions, seven hosts belonging to four botanical families not previously reported as susceptible to Verticilliun wilt, and 12 hosts belonging to seven families new for Greece, were recorded. The worldwide new hosts are: anise (Anethum graveolens), chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), wild sweet pea (Lathyrus ochrus), lentil (Lens culinaris), marigold (Tagetes erecta) and vetch (Vicia sativa). These species could be infected by their hosts-of-origin V. dahliae isolates during pathogenicity tests.