Environmental Effects of Temperature and Water Potential on Mycelial Growth of Neocosmospora solani and Fusarium spp. Causing Dry Root Rot of Citrus

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of environmental factors temperature and water potential (Ψw) on the growth of Neocosmospora (Fusarium) solani and three Fusarium species (F. oxysporum, F. equiseti and F. brachygibbosum) associated with citrus dry root rot and to determine the optimum and marginal rate for their growth. The effects of incubation temperature (5-40 °C), water potentials (Ψw) (- 15.54; - 0.67 MPa) (0.89-0.995 a_w) and their interaction (5-30 °C) was evaluated on the in vitro radial growth rates of Fusarium spp. and on their lag phase. Secondary models were used to model the combined effect of these factors on radial growth rate. The results underlined a highly significant effects (P < 0.001) of Ψw and temperature and their interactions on radial growth rates and lag phases (λ). The Four studied species were shown tolerant to a temperature of 35 °C with an optimum mycelial growth at 30 for N. solani and F. oxysporum and at 25 °C for F. equiseti and F. brachygibbosum. However, no growth was observed at both temperatures 5 and 40 °C and at Ψw of - 9.68 MPa (0.93 a_w). The optimum water potential for growth was ≥- 2.69 MPA (>0.98 a_w). The results from the polynomial model and response surface showing good agreement between observed and predicted values. The external validation on citrus fruit indicated slight differences between predicted and observed values of radial growth. The results of this study will be beneficial for understanding the ecological knowledge of these species and thereby limited preventively their occurrence.