Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum dematium (Fr.) Grove to caraway Carum carvi L.

The aim of present work was to determine pathogenicity of three Colletotrichum dematium isolates to caraway. The effect of post-culture liquids and water suspension of conidia on germination of caraway schizocarps was studied in laboratory conditions. The effect of C. dematium on shooting up and healthiness of the seedlings was carried out in the climatic chamber using the method with infested soil and solidified plaster of culture medium overgrown by the mycelium of the pathogen. The studied isolates of fungus made the germination of parts of tested schizocarps impossible. On the other hand, all isolates caused necrosis of germs and roots of the other germinated schizocarps. The method with Colletotrichum dematium post-culture liquids was recognized as the best to a fast estimation of pathogenicity of fungus to caraway. Based on the positive results of pathogenicity tests the studied isolates of C. dematium were recognized as pathogenic to caraway. Considering this fact and repeated frequency of isolation of the fungus from various organs of this plant (M a c h o w i c z - S t e f a n i a k , 2010), C. dematium was recognized as a potentially pathogenic species to caraway.