ETD

• Fungi
• Halophytes
• Hydroponics
• Oomycota
• Plant pathology

Halophytes, salt-tolerant plants with growing interest under climate change and soil salinization, offer potential as crops for food, feed, remediation, and nutraceutical uses. However, their phytopathological aspects remain understudied. This work examines diseases affecting two halophytic species (i.e., Salicornia europaea and Atriplex hortensis var. rubra), pathogen adaptability, and host susceptibility under different environmental conditions. A root and crown rot disease was described in S. europaea caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum, with pot-grown plants showing higher susceptibility than hydroponically grown ones. The fungus demonstrated strong salt tolerance, enhanced growth in saline conditions, and mycotoxin production, demonstrating a halophilic/halotolerant lifestyle linked to its ability to infect halophytic hosts. Another novel pathosystem, A. hortensis/Pythium spp., was also characterized, revealing contrasting salt and temperature responses between P. deliense, which showed higher virulence and salt tolerance, and a species belonging to the Cluster B2a. Overall, the research highlights that halophytes, despite their abiotic stress tolerance, remain vulnerable to specialized pathogens. Understanding pathogen behavior in saline environments is essential for developing sustainable halophytic cropping systems and effective disease management strategies.