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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2019, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (12): 169-183.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2019105

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Research advances in Fusarium root rot of alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

FANG Xiang-ling*, ZHANG Cai-xia, NAN Zhi-biao   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
  • Received:2019-02-23 Online:2019-12-20 Published:2019-12-20

Abstract: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has the largest sown area and is the most important forage crop in China and internationally. Root rot disease caused by Fusarium spp. (Fusarium root rot) is one of the major constraints for alfalfa production, and influences the yield and quality of this crop, resulting in the decline and shortened-unitlization life of grassland. Fusarium spp., being one of the most important soil-borne fungal pathogen groups, account for much current reasearch into root rot of alfalfa. Since Fusarium spp. can survive in soil for long periods and alfalfa is a perennial forage, it is particularly difficult to control Fusarium root rot in alfalfa. Research advances in Fusarium root rot of alfalfa in relation to the distribution and damage, pathogen species and biological characteristics, infection sources and occurrence regularity, pathogenicity and pathogenicity mechanisms, cultivar resistance and control methods are summarized and discussed. Finally, future research directions are proposed. This effort should provide theoretical directions for future research as well as the development and implementation of new methods for disease control.

Key words: alfalfa, root rot, Fusarium spp., pathogenicity, disease resistance