Plant Protect. Sci., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/17/2025-PPS

Preliminary data on Plasmopara halstedii pathotype distribution in central Italy in 2020–2022Short Communication

Andrea Del Gatto1, Sandro Nardi2, Mauro Dal Pra' ORCID...3, Ilaria Alberti ORCID...4
1 Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Cereal and Industrial Crop Research Centre (CREA CI) – Experimental farm Settempedana, Osimo, Italy
2 AMAP, Agency for Innovation in the Agri-food and Fisheries Sector "Marche Agricoltura Pesca", Osimo, Italy
3 Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Plant Protection and Certification Research Centre (CREA DC), Lonigo, Italy
4 Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Cereal and Industrial Crop Research Centre (CREA CI), Rovigo, Italy

Downy mildew of sunflower is caused by the oomycete Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. et de Toni. Italy has seen an increase in mildew infections in parallel with the spread of the crop. In the present situation, there is a substantial lack of information that could help farmers and researchers control the disease. The most reasonable explanation for pathogen spread appears to be the genetic variability of P. halstedii. To develop an effective control strategy, we conducted a preliminary test in the central part of the peninsula (Marche Region) to gather data on this variability.

Keywords: sunflower; Downy mildew; genetic variability

Received: February 5, 2025; Revised: May 14, 2025; Accepted: June 3, 2025; Prepublished online: May 29, 2026 

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