Integrated Management of Fusarium in Florists’ Crops
Dr. Robert McGovern, University of Florida; Dr. Wade Elmer, Connecticut Agric. Experiment Station, and Dr. David Geiser, Penn State University, $35,000
2005 Annual Progress Report
INDUSTRY NEEDS ADDRESSED
Fusarium species cause common, persistent, and damaging diseases in most major potted and field-grown ornamentals. Severe outbreaks of Fusarium wilt, and Fusarium root and crown rot caused by a number of Fusarium species, including F. oxysporum, have caused extensive losses in lisianthus in the US. During the past 4-5 years we have also observed losses of up to 70% in China aster from Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum). A decline in caladium production over the past decade that has led to a shortage of tubers for use as potted, landscape plants is strongly linked to a high incidence (>90%) of F. solani. Fusarium wilt of cyclamen (F. oxysporum) is highly destructive and economically limiting to the production of quality cyclamens, and its incidence has steadily increased in production facilities across the US. Fusarium corm rot of gladiolus remains a persistent world-wide problem. Despite their importance, only sporadic research on diseases caused by Fusarium has recently occurred until the present group was assembled.
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