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Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio spiderwort)
Photograph and copyright courtesy of Paul L. Redfearn, Jr., Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

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.

Puccinia sherardiana (a rust) was collected on Callirhoe sp. (poppy mallow) at a plant nursery in Alachua County on 6 March 2009. This autoecious rust of Malvaceae, a State record, is known from further north and west in the United States, but this is the first reported incidence of the rust in Florida.

Sordaria sp. (a soilborne saprophyte) was collected on Hydrangea sp. (hydrangea) at a plant nursery in Duval County on 22 April 2009. This saprophytic ascomycete shoots packets of black spores into the environment.  The residue on plants could be mistaken for a pest and cause phytosanitary certification problems.

Kordyana tradescantiae, (a leaf spot), a Western Hemisphere record, was found on Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio spiderwort) at a plant nursery in Lake County on 11 March 2009. The pathogen behaves like a leaf smut and is being explored for biocontrol potential where Tradescantia is weedy.

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.