Vol. 65 No. 2 (2026)
Articles

Identification and characterization of Aspergillus species associated with Aspergillus vine canker of table grapes in Spain

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  • Adnan ALI,
  • Maela LEÓN,
  • Mónica BERBEGAL,
  • Josep ARMENGOL
Adnan ALI
Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022-Valencia, Spain
Maela LEÓN
Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022-Valencia, Spain
Mónica BERBEGAL
Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022-Valencia, Spain
Josep ARMENGOL
Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022-Valencia, Spain
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/phyto-17479

Published 2026-09-10

Keywords

  • Aspergillus niger,
  • A. tubingensis,
  • Grapevine trunk diseases,
  • pathogenicity,
  • Vitis vinifera

How to Cite

[1]
A. ALI, LEÓN M., M. BERBEGAL, and J. ARMENGOL, “Identification and characterization of Aspergillus species associated with Aspergillus vine canker of table grapes in Spain”, Phytopathol. Mediterr., vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 319–332, Sep. 2026.

Copyright (c) 2026 Adnan ALI, Maela LEÓN, Mónica BERBEGAL, Josep ARMENGOL

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

In the summer of 2024, table grape plants (Vitis vinifera, “Sweet Celebration”) in Cieza (Murcia province, southeastern Spain) exhibited wood cankers and dieback symptoms consistent with Aspergillus vine canker (AVC). This study aimed to determine the aetiology of the disease and characterize the associated pathogens. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses using cal and tub loci, combined with morphological characterization, identified Aspergillus niger and A. tubingensis from symptomatic plants. Mycelium growth patterns in response to temperature were similar for both species, with optimal growth between 30 and 33 °C, and no growth above 40 °C. Temperature also strongly influenced conidium germination. No germination occurred at 10 °C, and rapid and full germination occurred between 30 and 40 °C. Pathogenicity tests on table grape ‘Alphonse Lavallée’ showed that both species were pathogenic to grapevine wood, with A. niger exhibiting greater virulence. Inoculations on green leaves showed that both species colonized foliar tissues. These results confirm the association of A. niger and A. tubingensis with table grape cankers in southeastern Spain, and also highlight the ability of these fungi to develop at high temperatures, and pose potential threats to grape and wine production under warm Mediterranean conditions.

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