Influence of Cultivation Areas on the Seed-Borne Pathogens on Two Local Common Bean Ecotypes of “Fagioli di Sarconi” PGI (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major grain legume consumed worldwide with high nutritional value. Seed-borne pathogens represent a serious problem for seeds, causing losses of yield and quality reduction.

Basilicata Region (southern Italy) is a traditional, vocational area of bean production, in particular for "Fagioli di Sarconi" common beans, including different ecotypes protected by the European Union with the mark PGI (Protected Geographical Indication).

The study aimed to determine the presence of seed-borne pathogens isolated from seeds of two ecotypes of "Fagioli di Sarconi" common beans, "Ciuoto" and "Cannellino rosso", collected from three different cultivation areas of Basilicata Region during the years 2018 and 2019, for identifying genotypes resistant to seed-borne pathogens and well adapted to climatic changes.

The seeds were preliminary evaluated for their purity and germinability and treated or not with sodium hypochlorite for seed-borne pathogens screening, by using three validated seed health testing methods, according to the 2020 International Rules for seed testing: washing, blotter and between paper tests.

The washing test identified 17 fungal pathogens, different for ecotype and year of observation. Furthermore, the 1% sodium hypochlorite treatment strongly reduced the contaminants maintaining the Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani pathogens; instead, using the blotter test, Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium spp., Botrytis spp., Mucor spp., Rhizophus spp. saprophyte pathogens resulted.

Finally, between paper test, specific for detecting the C. lindemuthianum, revealed the presence of this pathogen for the both ecotypes and years, in all areas. This assay individuated some bacteria, too.