Ecology and Epidemiology of Diseases of Nut Crops and Olives Caused by Botryosphaeriaceae Fungi in California and Spain

Abstract

In recent decades, the cultivated area and production of nuts and olives have increased, driven by an increasing consumer interest in healthier food. Diseases of almond, pistachio, olive, and walnut crops caused by species belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family have caused concern worldwide. Although considerable progress has been made in elucidating the etiology of these diseases, scientific knowledge of other aspects of these diseases is more limited. In this article, we present an overview of the most important diseases caused by Botryosphaeriaceae fungi affecting almond, pistachio, olive, and walnut crops by focusing on ecology and epidemiology, primarily in California and Spain.

Keywords: Botryosphaeria; Neofusicoccum; blight; canker; escudete; fruit rot.