Morphological and molecular investigations on Cryphonectria parasitica isolates attacking chestnut in Basilicata Region (Southern Italy). Morphological and molecular characterization of Cryphonectria isolates from Basilicata region

Morphological and molecular investigations were undertaken to characterize isolates of chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica originated from Basilicata region (Southern Italy), from all of the zones cultivated with chestnut. With this aim, the C. parasitica isolates were collected, cultured in vitro to determine their morphological features, then the hypovirus dsRNA was isolated and characterized. Phylogenetic analyses were also performed and the subtype of the CHV-1 determined.