Análisis de redes sociales y bibliométrico de las tesis españolassobre drogodependencias en la base de datos TESEO / Bibliometric and academic network analysis of Spanishtheses on drug dependence in the TESEO database

El presente trabajo tiene por objeto desvelar la estructura de posiciones del campo de las adicciones a partir del análisis de las tesis doctorales defendidas en España. La fuente consultada para la selección de las tesis fue TESEO. La búsqueda se limitó al período 1976-2017 se utilizaron los descriptores abuso de drogas, alcoholismo, efecto de las drogas y tratamiento de la drogadicción. Se obtuvieron 728 tesis, siendo el quinquenio más productivo el 2013-2017 con 208 (28,6%) tesis doctorales. La evolución de las publicaciones es ascendente, excepto en el quinquenio 2003-2007 en el que la producción baja a un 5,2% del total. La universidad que aporta más tesis es la Universitat de València. El académico que más tesis ha dirigido es Alfonso Velasco Martín y Emilio Ambrosio Flores es el investigador que más ha participado en los tribunales. El análisis de los actores participantes en las tesis doctorales muestra un incremento de presencia de las mujeres como autoras, directoras de tesis y miembros de tribunales. En relación a la temática, los temas más abordados han sido los relacionados con la psicología, la farmacología y las ciencias médicas.El análisis de las tesis doctorales sobre drogodependencias ha dado una visión de su estructura y de las personas más influyentes de la misma. El aumento de la preocupación social en esta área y la creación de grupos y unidades de investigación específicos ha ocasionado un incremento de la producción científica

The present study aims to reveal the structure of positions in the field of addiction through the analysis of doctoral theses read in Spain. The source consulted for the selection of the theses was TESEO. Searching for the keywords drug abuse, alcoholism, drug effects and drug addiction treatment during the period 1976-2017 produced 728 theses. The most productive period is 2013-2017, with 208 (28.6%) doctoral theses. The overall rate of publication is increasing, but in the period 2003-2007 output decreased significantly to 5.2% of the total. The university contributing the most theses is the University of Valencia. The academic who has supervised the most theses is Alfonso Velasco Martín, and Emilio Ambrosio Flores is the researcher who has participated most on examining committees. The analysis of the participants in the doctoral thesis process shows a gradual increase of women in authorship, in thesis supervision and as examiners. In terms of subject, the most frequently treated aspects are those related to psychology, pharmacology and medical sciences. The analysis of doctoral theses on substance abuse provides an overview of the structure and the most influential participants in this area. Increasing public concern and the creation of specific groups and research units are reflected in the growth of scientific output

Reduction of Corky Root Infections on Greenhouse Tomato Crops by Soil Solarization in South Italy.

Five greenhouse experiments were conducted in southeastern Sicily (Italy) from 2000 to 2009 to evaluate the effectiveness of soil solarization in reducing natural infections of tomato corky root caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici. Tests were performed with clear, traditional, and innovative plastic films and fumigant applications. In all the trials, soil solarization was effective in controlling corky root disease relative to an untreated control. Although inducing different thermal regimes in the soil, the use of different greenhouse covering and mulching films for solarization proved effective in reducing corky root severity relative to the untreated control. Solarization reduced infections caused by P. lycopersici comparable with methyl bromide fumigation and greater than metham sodium and metham potassium. Among the tested films, green coextruded film may be most attractive because it can be left on after solarization as mulch.

La formación en nutrición en Iberoamérica / Training in nutrition in iberoamerica

Se ha revisado, en el ámbito Iberoamericano, las enseñanzas de grado y posgrado de Nutrición y Dietética como disciplina científica en las titulaciones de Ciencias de la Salud. Tras un recorrido histórico de la presencia de estas enseñanzas en las titulaciones de Ciencias de la salud en el ámbito iberoamericano, se ha procedido, de forma sistemática, a una revisión sobre 773 Universidades Iberoamericanas que imparten estudios de Ciencias de la Salud (Medicina, Farmacia, Enfermería). Tras un detenido análisis de la implantación y desarrollo de estos estudios se concluye que la Nutrición y Dietética ha tenido un desarrollo importante en toda Iberoamérica a lo largo del siglo pasado. Sin embargo, aún queda mucho que hacer, sobre todo en la potenciación de la investigación de esta disciplina y los estudios de posgrado, en especial en el campo de la Medicina (AU)

We have reviewed the Iberoamerican learning activities of undergraduate and graduate of Nutrition and Dietetics as a scientific discipline in Health Sciences. After a historical overview of of these studies in Iberoamerican health professionals, we have reviewed 773 Iberoamerican Universities that offer studies in Health Sciences (Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing). After a throughout analysis of the implementation and development of these studies we conclude that the Nutrition and Dietetics has suffer a important development in all the Iberoamerican area during the last century. However, there is still much to be done, especially in the empowerment of research and graduate studies in Nutrition and Dietetics, especially in Health Sciences (AU)

Calidad en la conservación de los medicamentos termolábiles en el ámbito domiciliario / Quality of storage of thermolabile drugs in patients’ homes

ObjetivoEvaluar las condiciones de conservación en el domicilio del paciente de 2 medicamentos termolábiles, el etanercept (Enbrel®) y el adalimumab (Humira®), y establecer la posible influencia sobre la temperatura (Ta) media de conservación de variables como el número de personas que viven en el domicilio, la edad de los pacientes o la antigüedad de la nevera.Material y métodosEstudio observacional prospectivo. La muestra estuvo constituida por 60 pacientes en tratamiento con Enbrel® o Humira®. Se utilizaron tarjetas con un sensor térmico integrado, VarioSens®, que se colocaron sobre el embalaje externo del medicamento, programadas para registrar la Ta cada 90min, durante aproximadamente 30 días. Se empleó como variable principal la Ta media de conservación detectada en los frigoríficos.ResultadosLos resultados confirmaron que existe mayor riesgo de conservación inadecuada mantenida (más de 24h consecutivas) cuando la Ta media del frigorífico está fuera del rango 2–8°C (riesgo relativo=3,9; intervalo de confianza del 95%=1,95–7,93; p<0,0001). Treinta y cinco pacientes (58,3%) tenían el medicamento a una Ta media fuera del rango establecido. Se observaron diferencias significativas en la Ta media de conservación en función de la antigüedad del frigorífico, inferior o superior a 5 años (p=0,029). La antigüedad superior a 5 años supuso un factor de riesgo para una conservación inadecuada (riesgo relativo=1,68; intervalo de confianza al 95%=1,04–2,71), con p=0,023 en la prueba de la Ji al cuadrado de Pearson.ConclusionesEs necesario establecer procedimientos que garanticen la trazabilidad de las condiciones de conservación de los medicamentos termolábiles a nivel domiciliario. Las nuevas tecnologías lo permiten, facilitan el asesoramiento al paciente y la toma de decisiones en cuanto a dispensación y reutilización en caso de devolución, y mejoran así nuestra calidad asistencial(AU)

ObjectiveTo evaluate storage conditions of two thermolabile drugs, etanercept and adalimumab, in patients’ homes, and the possible influence over the average storage temperature of variables such as the number of people living at home, age of the patient or age of the refrigerator.Materials and methodsProspective observational study. The sample consisted of 60 patients treated with Enbrel® or Humira®. Data loggers cards were used, with an integrated thermal sensor VarioSens®, which were placed on the outer packaging of the product, programmed to record temperatures every 90min for approximately 30 days. The average storage temperature recorded in refrigerators was used as the main variable.ResultsIt was shown that there is a greater risk of not maintaining adequate storage when the mean temperature of the refrigerator is outside a range of 2–8°C, RR=3.9 (95% CI=1.95–7.93), P=0.0001. A total of 35 patients (58.3%) stored medicines outside the correct temperature range. There were significant differences in average storage temperatures depending on the whether the age of the refrigerator was greater or less than 5 years, P=0.029. Older than 5 years represents a risk factor for inadequate storage, RR=1.68 (95% CI=1.04–2.71), P=0.023 with the Pearson chi-squared test.ConclusionsProcedures need to be established to ensure traceability of the storage of heat-labile drugs in patients’ homes. New technologies allow this to be done, by providing advice to patients and for making decisions regarding dispensing and reuse in the event of return, thus improving our quality of care(AU)

First Report of Crown and Root Rot Caused by Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A on Thryptomene saxicola in Italy.

Thryptomene saxicola (Hook.) Schauer is an evergreen shrub native to Western Australia and a member of the Myrtaceae. In Italy, this species was recently introduced as an ornamental plant from abroad. From July of 2008 to September 2009, a new crown and root rot of T. saxicola was observed on several stocks of approximately 20,000 1- to 3-year-old potted plants. Diseased plants were obtained from a commercial nursery in eastern Sicily, Italy. They were propagated from cuttings and grown under drip irrigation. More than 30% of the plants showed disease symptoms. Infected plants were characterized by a lack of vigor. Roots and crowns were partially or completely destroyed, and as a consequence, infected plants were chlorotic and often wilted. Early in the disease development, roots and crowns showed brown lesions. Successively, mature crown lesions turned dark brown. Longitudinal sections of crown tissues revealed a discoloration of the basal stem. Diseased tissues were surface disinfested for 1 min in 1% NaOCl, rinsed in sterile water, plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 100 mg/liter of streptomycin sulfate, and then incubated at 25°C. A binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) species was consistently isolated from affected tissues of plants. Phytophthora isolates were not recovered from symptomatic tissues plated on BNPRAH (benomyl, nystatin, pentachloronitrobenzene, rifampicin, ampicillin, and hymexazol) selective medium. Fungal colonies were white with floccose, aerial hyphae. Hyphal cells were determined to be binucleate when stained with 1% safranin O and 3% KOH solution (1) and examined at ×400. Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing isolates with five different tester isolates of BNR AG-A on 2% water agar in petri plates (3). Anastomosis was observed with all tester isolates. The rDNA-ITS of one isolate of BNR (DISTEF-TS1) was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. AB514570) (2). The sequence from this isolate exhibited 99% homology with BNR AG-A (GenBank Accession No. AY738628). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on potted, healthy, 1-year-old plants of T. saxicola. Forty plants were inoculated by placing 1/cm2 plugs of PDA from 5-day-old mycelial cultures near the base of the stem. The same number of plants was treated with 1/cm2 PDA plugs as controls. Plants were kept at 25°C and 95% relative humidity on a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Root and crown rots, identical to those observed in the nursery, appeared 45 days after inoculation, and 80% of the inoculated plants died within 4 months. Control plants remained healthy. Binucleate Rhizoctonia was reisolated from symptomatic tissues, completing Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world of BNR causing disease on T. saxicola. References: (1) R. J. Bandoni. Mycologia 71:873, 1979. (2) M. Hyakumachi et al. Phytopathology 95:784, 2005. (3) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.

First Report of Damping-Off Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 on Mediterranean Fan Palm in Italy.

Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis L.), one of just two autochthonous European palms, is native to the western Mediterranean Region in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. It can be found growing wild in the Mediterranean area. In Europe, this species is very popular as an ornamental plant. In March 2009, a widespread damping-off was observed in a stock of approximately 30,000 potted 1-month-old plants of C. humilis cv. Vulcano in a nursery in eastern Sicily. Disease incidence was approximately 20%. Disease symptoms consisted of lesions at the seedling shoot (plumule). Stem lesions were initially orange, turned brown, and followed by death of the entire plumule or eophyll. A fungus with mycelial and morphological characteristics of Rhizoctonia solani Kühn was consistently isolated from lesions when plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate at 100 µg/ml. Fungal colonies were initially white, turned brown with age, and produced irregularly shaped, brown sclerotia. Mycelium was branched at right angles with a septum near the branch and a slight constriction at the branch base. Hyphal cells removed from cultures grown at 25°C on 2% water agar were determined to be multinucleate when stained with 1% safranin O and 3% KOH solution (1) and examined at ×400. Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing isolates with tester strains AG-1 IA, AG-2-2-1, AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3, AG-4, AG-5, AG-6, and AG-11 on 2% water agar in petri plates (3). Anastomosis was observed only with tester isolates of AG-4, giving both C2 and C3 reactions (2). One representative isolate obtained from symptomatic tissues was deposited at the Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS No. 125095). Pathogenicity tests were performed on container-grown, healthy, 1-month-old seedlings. Twenty plants of C. humilis cv. Vulcano were inoculated near the base of the stem with two 1-cm2 PDA plugs from 5-day-old mycelial cultures. The same number of plants served as uninoculated controls. Plants were incubated in a growth chamber and maintained at 25°C and 95% relative humidity on a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Symptoms identical to those observed in the nursery appeared 5 days after inoculation and all plants died within 20 days. No disease was observed on control plants. A fungus identical in culture morphology to R. solani AG-4 was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissues, confirming its pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world of R. solani causing damping-off on Mediterranean fan palm. References: (1) R. J. Bandoni. Mycologia 71:873, 1979. (2) D. E. Carling. Page 37 in: Grouping in Rhizoctonia solani by Hyphal Anastomosis Reactions. Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands, 1996. (3) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.

First Report of Crown Rot and Stem Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 on Marmalade Bush in Italy.

Marmalade bush (Streptosolen jamesonii (Benth.) Miers), also known as fire bush, is an evergreen, perennial shrub in the family Solanaceae, which is native to South America (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru). In Italy, this species is cultivated as an ornamental creeper or bush. During September 2009, a new disease was observed in a stock of ~10,000 pot-grown, 2-month-old plants of marmalade bush in a nursery in eastern Sicily, Italy. More than 50% of the plants exhibited symptoms of disease. Disease symptoms consisted of extensive water-soaked, dark brown lesions at the crown level that girdled entire stems and an internal brown discoloration of cortical tissue. Infected plants died within a few days. Diseased tissue was disinfested for 10 s in 1% NaOCl, rinsed with sterile water, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate at 100 mg/liter. Fungal colonies were initially white, turned brown after 2 to 3 days, and produced irregularly shaped, brown sclerotia. Microscopic examination showed mycelium consistent with Rhizoctonia solani Kühn that branched at right angles, constricted at the base of the branch originating from primary hyphae, and septate near the constriction. The number of nuclei per hyphal cell was determined on cultures grown at 25°C on 2% water agar in petri plates by staining with 1% safranin O and 3% KOH solution (1) and examined at ×400. The hyphal cells were all multinucleate. Anastomosis group was determined by pairing isolates on 2% water agar in petri plates (2). Pairings were made with tester strains AG-1 IA, AG-2-2-1, AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3, AG-4, AG-5, AG-6, and AG-11. Anastomosis was observed only with tester isolates of AG-4. Pathogenicity tests were performed by placing 1-cm2 plugs of PDA from 5-day-old mycelial cultures near the base of the stem on 25 potted, healthy, 2-month-old rooted cuttings of marmalade bush. The same number of plants treated with 1-cm2 PDA plugs served as controls. Following inoculation, all plants were maintained for 20 days at 25°C and 95% relative humidity under a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Crown and stem symptoms, identical to those observed in the nursery, developed 5 days after inoculation on all inoculated plants. Control plants remained symptomless. R. solani was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissues and identified as previously described. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani causing disease on marmalade bush. References: (1) R. J. Bandoni. Mycologia 71:873, 1979. (2) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.

[Quality of storage of thermolabile drugs in patients' homes]. / Calidad en la conservación de los medicamentos termolábiles en el ámbito domiciliario.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate storage conditions of two thermolabile drugs, etanercept and adalimumab, in patients' homes, and the possible influence over the average storage temperature of variables such as the number of people living at home, age of the patient or age of the refrigerator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study. The sample consisted of 60 patients treated with Enbrel or Humira. Data loggers cards were used, with an integrated thermal sensor VarioSens, which were placed on the outer packaging of the product, programmed to record temperatures every 90 min for approximately 30 days. The average storage temperature recorded in refrigerators was used as the main variable. RESULTS: It was shown that there is a greater risk of not maintaining adequate storage when the mean temperature of the refrigerator is outside a range of 2-8 degrees C, RR = 3.9 (95% CI = 1.95-7.93), P = 0.0001. A total of 35 patients (58.3%) stored medicines outside the correct temperature range. There were significant differences in average storage temperatures depending on the whether the age of the refrigerator was greater or less than 5 years, P = 0.029. Older than 5 years represents a risk factor for inadequate storage, RR = 1.68 (95% CI = 1.04-2.71), P = 0.023 with the Pearson chi-squared test. CONCLUSIONS: Procedures need to be established to ensure traceability of the storage of heat-labile drugs in patients' homes. New technologies allow this to be done, by providing advice to patients and for making decisions regarding dispensing and reuse in the event of return, thus improving our quality of care.

La cadena del frío de los medicamentostermolábiles en el domicilio del paciente / Cold chain for the storage of heat-labile drugs in the home

Objetivo: Valorar, de forma preliminar, las condiciones de conservación de los medicamentos termolábiles dispensados a pacientes externos, con el fin de ampliar el control de la cadena de frío al ámbito domiciliario. Métodos: El Servicio de Farmacia ofrece a los pacientes la posibilidad de validar la capacidad de la correcta conservación domiciliaria de los medicamentos termolábiles que le son dispensados. El procedimiento permite registrar la temperatura de conservación durante el transporte y en el frigorífico del paciente. A tal fin se utilizan tarjetas registradoras VarioSens(R), que se colocan en la parte externa del material de acondicionamiento del medicamento y que son programadas para hacer registros de temperatura cada 10 minutos, si ésta se encuentra fuera del rango 2-8 ºC. Resultados: En ninguno de los casos (n= 36) se mantuvo la temperatura dentro del rango establecido durante todo el periodo registrado. La temperatura media durante el transporte fue de 21,3 ± 7,0 ºC, alcanzándose más de 25 ºC en el 50% de los casos. La temperatura media de las neveras fue de 8,4 ± 3,7 ºC. En 18 casos sus temperaturas medias estaban dentro del intervalo establecido, en 16 por encima de 8 ºC y en 2 casos estuvieron por debajo de 2 ºC. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos indican que hay que desarrollar medidas para mejorar las condiciones de conservación de los medicamentos termolábiles en el domicilio de los pacientes ambulatorios, para poder garantizar la efectividad terapéutica de éstos. Las nuevas tecnologías permiten ampliar el control de la cadena del frío hasta la administración del medicamento (AU)

Objective: A preliminary evaluation of the conditions in which the heat-labile drugs provided to outpatients are stored, in the attempt to extend the control of the cold chain to the home setting. Methods: The Pharmacy Service offers patients the possibility of validating the proper storage of the heat-labile drugs provided to them in their homes. The procedure makes it possible to record the storage temperature during transport and in the patient's refrigerator at home. This is achieved using VarioSens(R) data loggers, placed on the outer surface of the packaging of the medication. These recording cards were programmed to measure the temperature every 10 minutes if it was outside the range of 2 to 8 ºC. Results: In no case (n= 36) was the temperature maintained with in the established range for the entire recording period. The mean temperature during transport was 21.3 ± 7.0 ºC, with temperatures of over 25 ºC in 50% of the cases. The mean temperature of the refrigerators was 8.4 ± 3.7 ºC. In 18 cases, the mean temperatures were within the established range, in16 cases, they were over 8 ºC and in two cases, they were under 2 ºC. Conclusions: The results obtained indicate that measures must be introduced to improve the storage conditions of heat-labile drugs in the homes of outpatients in order to ensure their therapeutic efficacy. New technologies make it possible to control the cold chain until the medication is administered (AU)

First Report of Crown and Root Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 on Coprosma repens and C. lucida in Italy.

Coprosma (J.R. Forster & G. Forster), a genus containing approximately 90 species, occurs principally in New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia, New Guinea, and islands of the Pacific. In Italy, some of these species, including many variegated varieties and hybrids, are grown as ornamental evergreen shrubs or small trees. In June 2008, a crown and root rot was observed in a stock of approximately 12,000 potted 3-year-old plants of Coprosma repens cv. Yvonne and C. lucida in a nursery in eastern Sicily. Disease incidence was approximately 30%. Disease symptoms consisted of water-soaked lesions at the crown of the trunk and a root rot. Successively, older stem lesions turned orange to brown. As a consequence, leaves initially became chlorotic, gradually became necrotic, and death of the plant followed. A fungus with mycelial and morphological characteristics of Rhizoctonia solani Kühn was consistently isolated from crown and root lesions when plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate at 100 µg/ml. Fungal colonies were initially white, turned brown with age, and produced irregularly shaped, brown sclerotia. Mycelium was branched at right angles with a septum near the branch and a slight constriction at the branch base. Hyphal cells removed from cultures grown at 25°C on 2% water agar were determined to be multinucleate when stained with 1% safranin O and 3% KOH solution (1) and examined at ×400. Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing isolates on 2% water agar in petri plates (3). Pairings were made with tester strains of AG-1 IA, AG-2-2-1, AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3, AG-4, AG-5, AG-6, and AG-11. Anastomosis was observed only with tester isolates of AG-4, giving C2 and C3 reactions (2). Two representative isolates obtained from symptomatic tissues of C. lucida and C. repens cv. Yvonne were deposited at the Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (DISTEF CL1 = CBS-124593 and DISTEF CR1 = CBS-124594, respectively). Pathogenicity tests were performed on container-grown, healthy, 3-month-old cuttings. Ten plants of C. lucida and ten plants of C. repens cv. Yvonne were inoculated near the base of the stem with five 1-cm2 PDA plugs from 5-day-old mycelial cultures. The same number of plants served as uninoculated controls. Plants were maintained at 25°C and 95% relative humidity on a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Symptoms identical to ones observed in the nursery appeared 5 days after inoculation and all plants died within 15 days. No disease was observed on control plants. A fungus identical in culture morphology to R. solani AG-4 was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissues, confirming its pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani causing crown and root rot on the genus Coprosma. References: (1) R. J. Bandoni. Mycologia 71:873, 1979. (2) D. E. Carling. Page 37 in: Grouping in Rhizoctonia solani by Hyphal Anastomosis Reactions. Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands, 1996. (3) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.

First Report of Crown Rot Caused by Cylindrocladium pauciramosum on Scarlet Honey Myrtle in Italy.

Scarlet honey myrtle (Melaleuca fulgens R. Br.), native to Australia, is an evergreen colorful shrub (Myrtaceae) and grown in Italy as an ornamental plant. During November 2008, a widespread disease was noticed on ~90% of 3,000 6-month-old M. fulgens cv. Red potted plants. Plants were obtained from cuttings and produced by a commercial nursery in Catania Province. Symptomatic plants showed a crown rot and longitudinal sections of tissues revealed a brown discoloration of the basal stem. As a consequence, leaves gradually became necrotic and abscised, followed by death of the entire plant. Root rots and leaf spots were not observed. M. gibbosa, M. ericifolia, M. thymifolia, and M. elliptica, cultivated in the same nursery, did not show disease symptoms. A Cylindrocladium sp. was consistently isolated from the crown and basal stem of symptomatic plants on potato dextrose agar (1). Ten Cylindrocladium isolates obtained from infected basal stems and crowns were selected and cultured for 8 days at 25°C on carnation leaf agar (CLA). Macroconidiophores consisted of a stipe, a penicillate arrangement, and a stipe extension terminating in an obpyriform to ellipsoidal vesicle (6 to 10 µm in diameter). Cylindrical conidia were rounded at both ends, straight, 1-septate, and 42 to 60 × 4 to 5 µm. All single-conidial isolates were mated with opposite tester strains of C. pauciramosum on CLA and produced fertile perithecia (3). Perithecia were solitary or in groups, orange to red-brown, subglobose to ovoid, and 270 to 400 µm high × 180 to 290 µm in diameter. Further confirmation of species was obtained by amplification and sequencing of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of rDNA with the M13 forward (-20) and M13 reverse primers. On the basis of the complete IGS sequence, two primer sets (218F/218R and 106F/106R) were designed and successfully used in a nested-PCR protocol for the detection of C. pauciramosum from tissues of infected plants (2). On the basis of morphological characters, mating type, and molecular data, the isolates were identified as C. pauciramosum C.L. Schoch & Crous. One representative isolate (DISTEF-MFR2; CBS 124657) was deposited at Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures open fungi collection (Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands). Pathogenicity tests were performed by adding sterile water to CLA cultures of C. pauciramosum from a single-conidial isolate and incorporating the resulting spore suspension (105 conidia per ml) on the soil surface of 20 3-month-old M. fulgens cv. Red potted plants. The same number of plants served as uninoculated controls. Following inoculation, plants were well irrigated and maintained in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1°C and 90 to 95% relative humidity. All inoculated plants developed crown rot symptoms identical to those observed in the nursery 2 months after inoculation. Control plants remained symptomless. C. pauciramosum was always reisolated from the infected plants and identified as previously described. C. pauciramosum was previously detected in Italy as being responsible for a leaf spot on M. hypericifolia (3). To our knowledge, this is the first record in the world of crown rot of scarlet honey myrtle caused by C. pauciramosum. References: (1) P. W. Crous. Taxonomy and Pathology of Cylindrocladium (Calonectria) and Allied Genera. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul MN, 2002. (2) F. Nigro et al. J. Plant Pathol. 88:S22, 2006. (3) G. Polizzi and P. W. Crous. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 105:407, 1999.

First Record of Crown and Root Rot Caused by Cylindrocladium pauciramosum on Brush Cherry in Italy.

Brush cherry (Eugenia myrtifolia Sims; synonym Syzygium paniculatum Gaertn.) is a woody evergreen ornamental plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family. This plant is a very common species in Sicilian landscapes. In June of 2008, a new blight disease was detected in a commercial nursery located in Sicily (Italy) in a stock of 10,000 2-year-old E. myrtifolia cv. Newport potted plants obtained from cuttings. The disease was randomly distributed, affecting approximately 2% of the plants. Twig dieback, followed in some cases by plant death, was associated with crown and root rot. Roots were necrotic and crown tissue was brown. A Cylindrocladium sp. was consistently isolated from symptomatic roots, crowns, and lower stems of affected plants on potato dextrose agar petri dishes. Phytophthora isolates were not found associated with symptomatic tissues with BNPRAH (benomyl, nystatin, pentachloronitrobenzene, rifampicin, ampicillin, and hymexazol) selective medium. Five Cylindrocladium isolates were selected and subsequently identified as single-conidial colonies on carnation leaf agar. Isolates were incubated at 25°C under near-UV light with a 12-h_light/dark regimen and examined after 7 days (1). Isolates were characterized by having conidiophores terminating in obpyriform to broadly ellipsoidal vesicles and conidia hyaline, one septate, and straight with rounded ends, (50-) 54 to 55 (-59) × (3.5-) 4 to 6 µm. These characteristics, as well as their ability to produce perithecia when mated with Italian tester strains of Cylindrocladium pauciramosum, allowed their identification as C. pauciramosum C.L. Schoch & Crous (1,4). One mating type (MAT1-1) was found to be present on this host and a representative fungal isolate (DISTEF-Em3) was deposited at the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS) open fungi collection (Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, NL) with Accession No. 123917. Pathogenicity of the isolate DISTEF-Em3 was confirmed by applying 10 ml of a spore suspension (105 conidia per ml) to the crowns of 20 potted 4-month-old E. myrtifolia cv. Newport cuttings that were subsequently maintained in a greenhouse (23 to 25°C and 80 to 90% relative humidity). The same number of untreated plants was used as control. After 4 weeks, only four treated plants developed symptoms identical to those observed in the nursery. Control plants remained symptomless. C. pauciramosum was always reisolated from the infected plants and the identification of the isolate was made as previously described. Pathogenicity tests were repeated twice. In Italy, C. pauciramosum is a widespread pathogen in nurseries that causes extensive losses on young ornamental plants belonging to several genera (2,3). On the basis of the limited spread of the disease in the nursery and the pathogenicity tests, we consider Cylindrocladium crown and root rot of brush berry as a minor disease. However, this work demonstrated the susceptibility of brush cherry to C. pauciramosum that could lead to more extensive losses in association with other biotic or abiotic stresses. To our knowledge, this is the first record of crown and root rot caused by C. pauciramosum on brush cherry. References: (1) P. W. Crous. Taxonomy and Pathology of Cylindrocladium (Calonectria) and Allied Genera. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2002. (2) G. Polizzi et al. Plant Dis. 85:803, 2001. (3) G. Polizzi et al. Plant Dis. 90:1459, 2006. (4) C. L. Schoch et al. Plant Dis. 85:941, 2001.

First Report of Benzimidazole-Resistant Isolates of Cylindrocladium scoparium in Europe.

Cylindrocladium scoparium Morg. (teleomorph Calonectria morganii Crous, Alfenas & M.J. Wingf.) was detected for the first time in Sicilian ornamental nurseries in 2005 and was responsible for damping-off and leaf spot of mastic tree seedlings (4). In Sicily, C. scoparium has caused extensive losses, and chemical control measures for the disease were necessary, especially in young plants. The benzimidazoles, including the thiophanates, which are transformed to benzimidazoles, are effective at relatively low doses for the inhibition of different species of Cylindrocladium (2). However, in a fungicide trial conducted in a Sicilian nursery on Callistemon cuttings infected by C. scoparium, thiophanate methyl was ineffective. Fourteen isolates of Cylindrocladium sp. were recovered on potato dextrose agar (PDA) from rotted crown and roots of Pistacia lentiscus L. and Callistemon cvs. Laevis, Hanna Ray, Masotti Mini Red, and Rose Opal and cultured on carnation leaf agar. Isolates were identified as C. scoparium based on pyriform-to-broadly ellipsoidal terminal vesicles, conidiophore branching pattern, morphology of conidia and perithecia, as well as their ability to mate with opposite mating types of South African C. scoparium and Italian C. pauciramosum isolates. Perithecia containing viable ascospores developed after approximately 2 months. Three representative isolates were deposited at Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS120892, CBS119669, and CBS119670). Sensitivity to benzimidazole was determined by plating mycelial plugs on PDA amended with benomyl or carbendazim at 1, 10, 100, and 500 µg a.i./ml. Four plates were used for each fungicide concentration. Sensitivity was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (the lowest fungicide concentration that completely prevented fungal growth). Isolates that did not grow on benzimidazole-amended PDA were classed as sensitive. The experiment was repeated two times. Isolates were considered resistant to benzimidazole if MIC values were greater than 1 µg a.i./ml for benomyl and carbendazim. Of the 14 isolates tested, 13 were resistant to benzimidazole. The benomyl-resistant isolates were also resistant to carbendazim. Among the resistant isolates, five grew in the presence of 10 µg a.i./ml and one isolate grew at 100 µg a.i./ml. Widespread incidence of benzimidazole-resistant isolates in a population of C. pauciramosum was detected in Italy (3). Benzimidazole-resistant isolates of C. scoparium were previously detected in Brazil (1) where the constant use of benomyl in nurseries led to the selection of strains resistant to fungicide at nearly 1,000 µg a.i./ml. To our knowledge, this is the first report of benzimidazole-resistant isolates of C. scoparium in Europe. Because of the high incidence of benzimidazole-resistant isolates detected in our study, good fungicide resistance management practices should be followed. Appropriate cultural, biological, and chemical disease control methods should be combined and implemented to delay further changes in sensitivity of the pathogen. The exclusive use of benzimidazole fungicides in nursery for the control of Cylindrocladium spp. should be avoided. References: (1) A. Alfenas et al. ISPP. Chem. Contr. Newsl. 10:23, 1988. (2) P. W. Crous. Taxonomy and Pathology of Cylindrocladium (Calonectria) and Allied Genera. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul MN, 2002. (3) G. Polizzi and A. Vitale. Plant Dis. 85:1210, 2001. (4) G. Polizzi et al. Plant Dis. 90:1110, 2006.

Severe Outbreak of Crown Rot and Root Rot Caused by Cylindrocladium pauciramosum on Strawberry Tree in Italy.

From 2006 to 2009, a new disease was noticed in several commercial nurseries in Sicily (Italy) on ~13,000 potted plants of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) ranging from 3 months to 4 years old. Symptomatic plants showed a crown and root rot and internal brown discoloration of the basal stem. No leaf spots were detected. The percentage of symptomatic plants was variable in the different stocks (1 to 28%). A Cylindrocladium sp. was isolated consistently from symptomatic tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Although many crown rots are caused by Phytophthora or Rhizoctonia spp., plating small pieces of diseased tissue from rotten roots and crowns onto corn meal agar or PDA yielded these pathogens sporadically. Twenty Cylindrocladium isolates obtained from infected basal stems, crowns, and roots were selected and subsequently cultured on carnation leaf agar (CLA). Macroconidiophores consisted of a stipe, a penicillate arrangement of fertile branches, and stipe extension terminating in an obpyriform-to-ellipsoidal vesicle (6 to 10 µm in diameter). Conidia cylindrical, straight, and 1-septate ranged from 40 to 60 × 4 to 5 µm. All single-conidial isolates were mated with tester strains DISTEF-G87 (MAT1-1) and DISTEF-G128 (MAT1-2) of Cylindrocladium pauciramosum (3) on CLA and produced fertile perithecia after 2 months. Perithecia were solitary or in groups, orange to red-brown, subglobose to ovoid, and ranged from 260 to 400 × 180 to 290 µm in diameter. On the basis of the combination of morphological and perithecial characters and mating type the isolates were identified as C. pauciramosum C.L. Schoch & Crous, teleomorph Calonectria pauciramosa C.L. Schoch & Crous (1,4). One representative isolate was deposited at Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS; No. 123918) open fungi collection. Pathogenicity tests were performed by adding sterile water to CLA cultures of C. pauciramosum from a single-conidial isolate and incorporating the resulting spore suspension (105 conidia per ml) on the soil surface of 20 3-month-old strawberry tree potted plants. The same number of plants served as a control. After inoculation, plants were maintained in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1°C and 90 to 95% relative humidity. All inoculated plants developed crown and root rot identical to one observed in the nursery 2 months after inoculation. Control plants remained symptomless. C. pauciramosum was always reisolated from infected plants. This fungus represents a serious threat for ornamental nurseries in Europe. Diseases related to infection of C. pauciramosum are different in relationship to the host tissues and the affected species. On strawberry tree, C. pauciramosum was previously detected in Italy as causal agent of leaf spots (2). To our knowledge, this is the first record of crown and root rot of strawberry tree caused by C. pauciramosum. In contrast with leaf spots, this report could indicate an important limiting factor for cultivation of strawberry tree potted plants in nurseries. The knowledge of the susceptibility of this host to crown and root rot caused by C. pauciramosum can help growers apply specific control strategies in nurseries. References: (1) P. W. Crous. Taxonomy and Pathology of Cylindrocladium (Calonectria) and Allied Genera. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2002. (2) G. Polizzi and V. Catara. Plant Dis. 85:803, 2001. (3) G. Polizzi and P. W. Crous. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 105:407, 1999. (4) C. L. Schoch et al. Plant Dis. 85:941, 2001.

First Report of Crown Rot and Root Rot Caused by Cylindrocladium pauciramosum on Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana) in Italy.

Feijoa sellowiana (O. Berg) O. Berg is native to South America and grown in Italy as an ornamental plant and for its fruit. During 2006, 2007, and 2008, a severe wilting was noticed on ∼ 10,000 potted 6-month to 3-year-old plants obtained from seeds and produced by three commercial nurseries in Catania Province (southern Italy). Wilting was always associated with root rot and brown discoloration at the base of the stem. Leaf spots or stem lesions were not observed. A Cylindrocladium sp. was isolated consistently from the crown, basal stem, and roots of symptomatic plants on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Ten isolates of a Cylindrocladium sp. were obtained from single-spore colonies made from a 14-day-old culture grown on PDA and subsequently subcultured on carnation leaf agar (CLA). Cultures were incubated at 25°C under near-UV light with a 12-h light/dark regimen and examined after 7 days (1). Only fungal structures occurring on the carnation leaf tissue were examined. Isolates were identified based on morphological traits and mating type responses (2,4). Isolates were mated with opposite mating tester strains of C. pauciramosum (DISTEF-G128 [MAT1-1] and DISTEF-G87 [MAT1-2]) and C. scoparium (DISTEF-GCs7 = CBS 120892 [MAT1-1] and DISTEF-GP0 = CBS 119669 [MAT1-2]) selected from an Italian collection. Plates were parafilmed, sealed in plastic bags, incubated in a chamber at 25 ± 1°C with a photoperiod of 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness, and examined weekly until perithecia developed. Successful crosses were determined after 2 months of incubation and were regarded as those isolate combinations that produced perithecia with viable ascospores. Conidia were observed to be 30 to 60 × 3.5 to 5.0 µm while conidiophores mostly had two to three series of branches and stipes terminated in obpyriform to broadly ellipsoidal vesicles, which is characteristic of C. pauciramosum C.L. Schoch and Crous (teleomorph Calonectria pauciramosa C.L. Schoch and Crous). Fertile perithecia containing viable ascospores were similar to Calonectria pauciramosa. They were obtained only from crosses of the examined isolates with mating type testers of C. pauciramosum. Six isolates (when paired with DISTEF-G128) and four isolates (when mated with DISTEF-G87) provided fertile progeny. No perithecia were obtained in pairings of the 10 isolates with tester strains of C. scoparium. One representative isolate was deposited at the Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (DISTEF-AS4 = CBS-120618). Koch's postulates were fulfilled by inoculating 30 6-month-old seedlings of feijoa with a spore suspension (105 conidia per ml) of one isolate of the pathogen (DISTEF-AS4) grown on CLA for 14 days. The same number of seedlings was used as a control. Following inoculation, plants were maintained in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1°C and 90 to 95% relative humidity. Wilting, crown rot, and root rot symptoms identical to those observed in the nurseries appeared within 15 to 50 days. Symptoms were not observed on the control plants. C. pauciramosum was previously reported to cause leaf spots on feijoa (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of wilting due to crown and root rot caused by C. pauciramosum in this host. The disease is a limiting factor for feijoa cultivation in Sicilian nurseries. References: (1) P. W. Crous et al. Mycologia 84:497, 1992. (2) P. W. Crous and M. J. Wingfield. Mycotaxon 51:341, 1994. (3) G. Polizzi and V. Catara. Plant Dis. 85:803, 2001. (4) C. L. Schoch et al. Mycologia 91:286, 1999.

First Report of Damping-Off on African Daisy Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 in Italy.

Osteospermum (African Daisy or Cape Daisy) is a genus belonging to the Calendulae with a large number of perennial plant species. In February of 2007, a severe damping-off occurred on 3- to 4-month-old potted cuttings of Osteospermum 'Impassion Rose Purple', 'Impassion White', 'Impassion Purple', and 'Impassion White Rose' cultivated in a nursery in eastern Sicily. More than 30% of the plants were infected. Disease symptoms consisted of extensive water-soaked lesions at the base of the stem followed by wilt and collapse of the plant. Isolations from diseased tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate at 100 mg/l consistently recovered a fungus with morphological characteristics of Rhizoctonia solani. Fungal colonies were initially white, turned brown after 2 to 3 days, and produced irregularly shaped, brown sclerotia after 1 week. Microscopic examination revealed that hyphae had right angle branching patterns, were constricted at the base of the branch near the union with main hyphae, and septate near the constriction. The number of nuclei per hyphal cell was determined on cultures grown at 25°C on 2% water agar in petri plates. Mycelium was stained with 0.5% aniline blue solution (4) and examined with a microscope at ×400. The hyphal cells were all multinucleate. Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing isolates (3) with tester isolates of AG-1 IA, AG-2-2-1, AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3, AG-4, AG-5, AG-6, and AG-11. Anastomosis was observed only with tester isolates of AG-4, giving C2 reactions (1) at a high frequency. The identification of group AG-4 within R. solani had been obtained by electrophoretic patterns of pectic enzymes (polygalacturonases) in vertical pectin-acrylamide gel stained with ruthenium red (2). All isolates of R. solani collected from infected plants were paired in all combinations on PDA plus 1% activated charcoal and examined for somatic interaction. All paired colonies merged without producing visible tufts of aerial mycelium. Absence of tufts and the lack of formation of heterokaryon at the hyphal interaction zone indicated that all isolates belonged to the same mating type with the same mating alleles (3). Pathogenicity tests were performed by placing plugs of PDA from 5-day-old mycelial cultures in the soil near the base of the stem on 20 potted, healthy, 2-month-old cuttings of Osteospermum cv. Impassion Rose Purple. The same number of plants treated with 1/cm2 PDA plugs served as controls. Following inoculation, all plants were maintained in a growth chamber at 25°C and 95% relative humidity on a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Wilt symptoms and lesions at the base of stem identical to those observed in the nursery developed 7 days after inoculation, and all inoculated plants died within 20 days. Control plants remained symptomless. R. solani AG-4 was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissues, completing Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of damping-off on the genus Osteospermum caused by R. solani. References: (1) D. E. Carling. Page 37 in: Grouping in Rhizoctonia solani by Hyphal Anastomosis Reactions. Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands, 1996. (2) R. H. Cruickshank and G. C. Wade. Anal. Biochem. 107:177, 1980. (3) M. C. Juliàn et al. Phytopathology 86:566, 1996. (4) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.

First Report of Aspergillus Vine Canker on Table Grapes Caused by Aspergillus niger in Europe.

In March of 2003, vine cankers and lesions were first observed on vigorous 1-year-old cv. Black Rose vines (Vitis vinifera) in a vineyard in southeastern Sicily, Italy. Since then, the same symptoms have been observed every year up to 2007 throughout the most important table grape production areas of Italy on cvs. Black Rose, Redglobe, and Italia. The disease epidemic has increased during the last 2 years, with incidence of cankered vines as much as 12.5%, and with two to three canker lesions per infected vine. On affected vines, most cankers were found at branch points and on the stems of young shoots grafted in the field. The infections seem to start from growth cracks on rapidly growing 1-year-old shoots or through wounds caused by the removal of lateral shoots. First symptoms usually appeared in late July or August as reddish pinhead-size drops of sap exuded from the infection site on the surface. By October to November, trunks of affected vines were girdled by the canker and prematurely displayed bright fall colors. The trunk appeared slightly larger and spongy where the canker occurred. Internally, cankered tissues were discolored and dead, and black powdery spores were abundant and sometimes visible on the surface. Callous tissue was often associated with the canker. Canker length was variable (average of approximately 8 cm) and either affected a small portion of the shoot's cross section or girdled it completely. Cultures of the fungus isolated from canker lesions or from the black spores within the lesions consistently yielded colonies typical of Aspergillus niger van Tiegh (3) when cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with 100 µg/ml of chloramphenicol. Pathogenicity tests were carried out on potted plants of cvs. Black Rose, Redglobe, and Italia grown in a greenhouse by inoculating six vigorous, young grapevines of each cultivar. Inoculations were made by placing 8-mm-diameter mycelial plugs taken from actively growing cultures of A. niger on a cut made by removal of a lateral shoot with a sterile razor. Inoculated sites were sealed with Parafilm to prevent dehydration of the inoculum. For a control treatment, an equal number of grapevines was inoculated with only a PDA plug. Three months later, all inoculated grapevines exhibited symptoms similar to those observed in the commercial vineyards while control vines remained symptomless. A. niger was always reisolated on PDA media from all infected vines. A. niger is reported to cause bunch rot complex of grape (1,2) and was previously reported in California causing Aspergillus vine canker (4). Since disease incidence and severity can increase year after year on vines grafted in the field, it is recommended that all cankers be removed by cutting back the vines in the fall. In the following March to April, growers could revisit the affected vines, evaluate shoot growth, and vines with weak shoot growth should be cut back below the canker. Subsequently, the vine can be retrained using a shoot originating from below the canker. To our knowledge, this is the first record of Aspergillus vine canker caused by A. niger on table grapes in Europe. References: (1) W. B. Hewitt. Compendium of Grape Diseases. R. C. Pearson and A. C. Gohen, eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1994. (2) W. R. Jarvis and J. A. Traquair. Plant Dis. 68:718, 1984. (3) M. A. Klich. Identification of Common Aspergillus Species. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2002. (4) T. J. Michailides. Plant Dis. 86:75, 2002.

First Report of Stem Bleeding and Trunk Rot of Kentia Palm Caused by Thielaviopsis paradoxa in Italy.

The Kentia palm or Sentry palm (Howea forsteriana (C. Moore & F.v. Muell.) Becc.) is one of the most popular palms in the world. In Italy, it is suitable for growing indoors or outdoors. In September 2006, bleeding was found on the stem of a 20-year-old Kentia palm growing in a field nursery in eastern Sicily. The trunk began to bleed from cracks or fissures of the bark at 5 ft (1.5 m) from the ground level. Tissues surrounding the stem cracks were black. The plant canopy showed no symptoms. Cross-sections revealed brown rot confined to one side of the trunk where the rot was spreading inward from the surface. Infected tissues did not emanate odor of fermented fruit. Internal tissue adjacent to the rotted areas was placed on carrot agar amended with 500 µl of streptomycin sulphate and acidified (lactic acid; pH = 3.6) potato dextrose agar (PDA). A transverse section of affected palm tissues was maintained in a moist chamber for 6 days. Microscopic examinations of isolates obtained on media and sporulation from affected tissues yielded Thielaviopsis paradoxa (De Seyn.) Höhn (2). Endoconidia, measuring 3.9 (range 3 to 6) × 8.2 µm (range 6 to 14) (n = 50), were cylindrical to somewhat oval when mature, hyaline to brown, and smooth walled. Endoconiodophores were usually straight, colorless to pale brown, as much as 150 µm long, with a terminal spore-bearing cell through which spores are borne. Chlamydospores were smooth, thick walled, brown, in chains, and were 8.8 (range 5.5 to 15.0) × 15.8 µm (range 9.0 to 25.0) (n = 50). Koch's postulates were fulfilled by stem inoculation on a 20-year-old double-stem Kentia palm growing in the same field nursery. Ten mycelial plugs (5-mm diameter) obtained from 14-day-old single-spore colonies growing on PDA at 24°C were applied to 10 5-mm-diameter stem wounds. The same number of inoculations was used as a control in the other stem and treated with sterile agar plugs. Following inoculation, the mycelial plugs and the stems were wrapped with Parafilm. After 20 days, stem rots were detected only on the inoculated stem wounds, and stem bleeding was observed after 3 months. The pathogen was reisolated from symptomatic tissues. A Thielaviopsis sp. was previously reported in Florida on Kentia palm as being responsible for a frond necrosis (1). While stem bleeding seems to be a common symptom on coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), it is not commonly reported on other palm species. Only recently, T. paradoxa was detected for first time in Sicily on date palm imported from Egypt (3). To our knowledge, this is the first record of stem bleeding caused by T. paradoxa on palms in Italy, and the first record of stem bleeding and stem rot on Kentia palm. References: (1) S. A. Alfieri Jr. et al. Fla. Dep. Agric. Consum. Serv. Bull. No. 14. 1994. (2) A. R. Chase and T. K. Broschat, eds. Diseases and Disorders of Ornamental Palms. The American Phytopathological Society, St Paul MN, 1991. (3) G. Polizzi et al. Plant Dis. 90:972, 2006.