LetgenPro|Real Time PCR Kit 100 rxn (Plenodomus tracheiphilus)

Mal Secco, caused by the vascular-inhabiting fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus, is the most destructive fungal disease affecting lemons and other sensitive citrus species. The pathogen colonizes xylem vessels, causing progressive dieback, sudden wilting, and a characteristic salmon-pink to reddish-orange discoloration of the internal wood. In its highly aggressive form, known as “mal fulminante,” root infections lead to a rapid and fatal collapse of the tree.The epidemiology of P. tracheiphilus is driven by wet weather conditions and mechanical injuries, with symptoms often starting as leaf chlorosis. A significant diagnostic challenge is that secondary invaders such as C. gloeosporioides can mask the primary pathogen by forming easily visible structures, whereas P. tracheiphilus remains hidden within cortical tissues. Because traditional visual inspection is frequently confounded by these secondary pathogens and latent infection stages, early molecular detection is vital. Identifying the pathogen’s DNA within asymptomatic or masked tissues ensures an accurate differential diagnosis, supporting timely management decisions to mitigate the risk of total orchard loss.