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Foliar symptoms of Raffaelea lauricola (laurel wilt) on Persea borbonia (red bay tree)
Photograph courtesy of Bud Mayfield, FDACS Division of Forestry

Colletotrichum dracaenophilum (stem rot) on Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo)
Photograph courtesy of T. Schubert, DPI

Plant Pathology Section

Compiled by Robert Leahy

This section provides plant disease diagnostic services and conducts a citrus germplasm introduction program. The agency-wide goal of protecting Florida agriculture very often begins with accurate diagnosis of plant problems. Disease management recommendations are offered where appropriate and available. Our plant pathologists are dedicated to keeping informed about plant diseases outside Florida in order to be prepared for potential introductions of new pathogens.

Persea borbonia (red bay) - Raffaelea lauricola, laurel wilt. Collected at a private home in Volusia County on 23 January 2009. The laurel wilt pathogen vectored by Xyleborus glabratus, redbay ambrosia beetle, is capable of attacking and killing several members of the Lauraceae in addition to red bay, including sassafras, pondspice, spicebush and camphor-tree. Commercially, the biggest concern is the apparent susceptibility of many varieties of avocado, most of which are grown in Miami-Dade County.

Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo) - Colletotrichum dracaenophilum, stem rot. Collected at a grocery store in Duval County on 9 February 2009. This stem pathogen has probably been introduced into the US by way of the vast quantities of lucky bamboo propagative material from Asia.

Hibiscus syriacus (rose-of-Sharon) - Thielaviopsis basicola, root rot. Collected at a nursery in Gilchrist County on 20 January 2009. The black root rot pathogen is more commonly found on hollies and pansies, but it has a wide host range. The fungus prefers cool, wet soils and can be very difficult to manage once soils are infested. NEW HOST RECORD.

Suriana maritima (bay cedar) - Rhizoctonia sp., root rot. Collected from a nursery in Palm Beach County on 12 January 2009. NEW HOST RECORD.

Plant Pathology Sample Report

Following is a table with entries for records of new hosts or new geographical areas for samples identified in the current volume's time period as well as samples of special interest. The tables are organized alphabetically by plant host.