BEHAVIOR OF SOME WALNUT VARIETIES UNDER JUVENILE PHASE TO BACTERIOSE AND ANTRACNOSE ATTACK

Abstract

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is an important species for the European and Romanian fruit growing, but, despite its resilience, it can be attacked by specific diseases such as bacteriose (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis (Pierce) Dye) and anthracnose (Gnomonia leptostyla D.C. Trav) which due to the climatic changes became more active than in the past decades. This paper presents results on the behavior of 48 walnut varieties preserved into the new collection established at RIFG Pitesti Romania to the field infections with these pathogens, their resilience in juvenile phase and their overall classification. The data collected reveal that the microclimate conditions during years of the study (2018-2020) were very favorable for the walnut diseases attack. The correlations monthly average temperatures (*C) -- average leaf wetness hours sum (h/month) and monthly average precipitation sum (mm) -- average leaf wetness hours sum (h/month), contributed to the infections speed and diseases development on the studied biologic material. For these the coefficients R2=0.6086*** (r=0.7801***, n=35) and R2=0.5584*** (r=0.7472***, n=35) were calculated. Under such circumstances, the best behavior on the walnut blight had the varieties: 'Făleşti', 'Geoagiu 453', 'Jupâneşti', 'Miroslava', 'Novaci', 'Timval', 'Valcor', 'Valrex', 'Velniţa', 'Victoria' and 'Vlădeşti' with damages degree DD% on leaves no higher than 0,03. Also, The most resilient on anthracnose attack on leaves were the varieties: 'Argeşean', 'Gemenea 20', 'Pestişani', 'Pecianski', 'Schinoasa', (DD%=0.13), 'Valcris' (DD%=0.11), 'Codrene', 'Secular RM', 'Sibişel 265' (DD%=0.10) and 'Valrex' (DD%=0.05).