ChileanJAR

The acreage planted with antichoke has strongly diminished in the V Region of Chile, area situated around 130 km north of Santiago, during the past 10 years. In 1987/88, surveying the areas of La Calera, La Cruz and Quillota, a 22 to 70% of dead plants, was observed. This plants showed wilt symptoms, due to a necrosis in the vascular zone of the stems and crowns. The lower leaves and the bracts of the flowers showed necrotic lesions. Vertieillium dahliae Kleb, isolated from leaves and stems in specific culture media, was shown to be the causal agent. This is the first detection of V. dahliae on artichoke in Chile.