Common and Newly Identified Foliar Diseases of Seed-Producing Lucerne in France

Abstract

A 4-year survey of seed-producing lucerne fields in the three main production regions of France, representing 10.000 ha and three types of climates, confirmed the presence of the foliar pathogens Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Ascochyta imperfecta, Stemphylium spp., Leptosphaerulina briosiana, and Uromyces striatus. Surprisingly, A. imperfecta often was found in association with Stemphylium-like symptoms. Further investigation revealed the presence of fungi until now only rarely found or unreported in France, such as Leptotrochila medicaginis, Cercospora medicaginis, and Stagonospora meliloti. The results showed that P. medicaginis and A. imperfecta were present on more than 50% of the samples. U. striatus and C. medicaginis also commonly were found and infected about 25% of the samples. L. medicaginis occurred primarily in the Southwest region.