Eremotheciosis

Eremotheciosis is a specific plant infectious disease caused by fungi of the Eremotheciaceae family, particularly members of the Eremothecium genus (e.g., Eremothecium coryli). These microorganisms belong to the ascomycetes and specialize in attacking the reproductive organs of agricultural crops, significantly affecting their reproductive capacity and fruit quality.

This pathology affects a wide range of plants, including important industrial and fruit crops. Eremotheciosis most frequently affects soybeans, cotton, tomatoes, hazelnuts, pistachios, and citrus fruits. Under conditions favorable to the fungus, the disease can spread rapidly, damaging both seeds and fruits, which poses a serious threat to crop production.

Symptoms of the infection often do not manifest immediately, which complicates early diagnosis. Characteristic signs include the development of internal rot, discoloration of seeds, the appearance of dark spots on fruits, and changes in their structural integrity. In cases of deep infection, tissues inside the seeds become loose, darken, and are covered with a fungal mycelium mat, leading to a total loss of germination.

The development and spread of Eremotheciosis are favored by high air humidity and moderately warm temperatures during the crop maturation period. The fungus is mainly transmitted by insect pests, such as stink bugs (e.g., Nezara viridula), which introduce spores of the pathogen into the tissues while piercing the fruits. Thus, injuries caused by pests act as entry points for the infection.

The damage caused by the disease lies not only in a direct reduction of yields but also in a sharp deterioration of product quality. Infected seeds exhibit low germination rates and vigor, while fruits lose their nutritional value and storage potential. Control measures include destroying weed hosts of the infection, managing populations of insect vectors, and utilizing resistant cultivars.