As principle, spontaneous plant species related to those used as crops constitute the intermediate hosts for most pathogens especially where the pathogens, from epidemiological point of view, have a large number of vectors and forms of dissemination. In the case of plants from Malvaceae family, most common species in the wild flora of the reference area are Althea officinalis and Malva silvestris. Both species are used as herbs but one that is cultivated as a medicinal plant is Althea officinalis. Also both species are in significant populations in the wild flora of Nera Canyon National Park, which is area where the observations were made. This area has a high variety of herbs species and populations due to the rugged terrain. The observations were made between 2013 and 2015. In present paper we present the situation of the one of the most important pathogens from the populations of Althea officinalis and Malva silvestris which we considered to be rust (Puccinia malvacearum). This leaf pathogen was present over all observation period in all populations where observations was carried out. Important to know is that from mallow plants there are known from antiquity till today to be used roots and leaves and flowers for different pharmaceutical preparations, from simple teas to complex tinctures and also they could be used directly in food (from simple salads to more complex dishes, boiled or fried). The pathogen affects leaves, the attack on plants can produce significant losses of leaf area and so they can compromise their quality for use as pharmaceutical or nutrition purposes. Secondary, the loss of leaf area due to pathogens attack significantly affects both the number of flowers and seeds quantity produced on this plants because the attacks starts before the development of floral buds. In present paper we present results regarding leaf rust (Puccinia malvacearum) attack between 2013 and 2015.

Althea officinalis, Malva silvestris, Puccinia malvacearum INTRODUCTION

Presentation: poster