Estudio preliminar de los factores bióticos y abióticos asociados a la muerte del duraznero en Morelos, México

In 1996, a problem of complex etiology causing the death of peach trees in the state of Morelos, México was detected. The etiology of the death of the trees is so far unknown, therefore in this work, we have identified some of the biotic and abiotic factors related to the disease in 23 orchards located in the state of Morelos. The bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae was found in 96% of the orchards. Nematode families, species, and genera identified from samples included: Criconematidae and Hemicycliophoridae, Criconema demani, Criconema mutabile, Criconemoides informis, Mesocriconema caballeroi, Mesocriconema dherdei, Mesocriconema similicrenatum, Mesocriconema sosamossi, Mesocriconema xenoplax, Ogma palmatum, and Hemicycliophora sp. Mesocriconema xenoplax, which has been associated with Peach Tree Short Life (PTSL) disease, was found in six orchards and Criconema mutabile, which has been associated with bacterial canker complex disease (BCC), was found in five orchards. Soil analysis indicated that 96% of the orchards was acidic (pH 4.15-6.48) sandy loam. In 48% of the orchards pruning is performed at not recommendable times (December-March). There are no records of frost in the sampled area. Our results suggest that the problem present in Morelos is a complex disease with features of bacterial canker, PTSL and BCC.