First Report of Pycnostysanus azaleae on Rhododendron in Italy

Plant Disease
A GaribaldiM L Gullino

Abstract

Rhododendron species cultivation has a long history in northern Italy, where a wide selection of cultivars and hybrids is grown. In spring 2001, a previously unknown bud blast was observed on several rhododendron cultivars growing in gardens and parks in the Province of Biella, Italy. Flower petioles and twigs, but not leaves, showed extensive necrosis, and flower production was reduced. The first symptoms on infected flower buds are brown necrotic areas near the base, which increase in size until the whole bud appears brown and water-soaked. Infected buds shrink, but do not rot or disintegrate, and remain on the bush. Coremia (2.0 mm high and 0.5 mm wide), which appeared as black specks on outer bud scales, produced large numbers of spherical spores apically that measured 3.6 to 5.5 μm in diameter. The fungus Pycnostysanus azaleae (1) was consistently isolated after disinfested infected buds (1 min in 5.15% commercial NaOCl solution) were cultured on potato dextrose agar amended with streptomycin sulfate at 100 mg/liter. Pathogenicity of three isolates of P. azaleae was confirmed by inoculating with a spore suspension 30 buds of 2 rhododendron plants (cv. Rosso scuro grande tardiva) grown in containers (14 cm diameter). Buds w...Continue Reading

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