Molecular identification of Monilinia laxa, Monilinia fructigena and Monilinia fructicola from stone fruits in the Marche Region, Central-Eastern Italy

Stone fruit are highly perishable, with short shelf life, and they are susceptible to postharvest decay, leading to losses and waste. Fungi belonging to the genus Monilinia, and in particular Monilinia laxa, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia fructicola, and Monilinia polystroma, are causal agents of brown rot of stone fruit. In 2018 and 2019, a survey was carried out to investigate the distribution of Monilinia species causing brown rot in peach and nectarine orchards and packinghouses located in Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, and Pesaro-Urbino provinces of the Marche region, Central-Eastern Italy. Symptomatic fruits were sampled and causal agents were isolated and identified by classical and molecular techniques. M. laxa was the most abundant species, found on fruit in all orchards and packinghouses. The presence of M. fructicola was observed with increasing frequency in 2019. M. fructigena was not widespread on stone fruit, and it was detected only in 2019. Knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of the species will facilitate the planning and implementation of management strategies. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the degree of resistance of Monilinia species to synthetic fungicides used in brown rot management.