TRI-OLOGY

Sample Submissions

May/
Jun		 Year to Date
Pathology 338 613
Bee 2 6
Citrus Canker 166 455
Citrus Greening 1,080 1,924
Total Samples Submitted 1,586 3,011

Plant Pathology Section

Compiled by Robert M. 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.

Raffaelea lauricola (laurel wilt) was found on Persea borbonia (red bay) at Crystal River Preserve State Park on 25 May 2009. This is a new county record and marks the first record on the west side of the Florida peninsula.

Kordyana tradescantiae (a leaf spot) was found on Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio spiderwort) in a dooryard garden in Alachua County on 2 June 2009. This pathogen, new to North America last year, has apparently over-wintered without difficulty. The pathogen behaves like a leaf smut and is being explored for biocontrol of weedy Tradescantia species.

Mycovellosiella sp. (a leaf spot) was found on Plumeria sp. (frangipani), a new host record, in a Collier County nursery on 8 June 2009. This pathogen is apparently an undescribed species.

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.

Plant Species Plant Common Name Causal Agent Disease Name Location Type County Sample Number Collector Date New Records
Citrus limon lemon Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Huang-longbing, Asiatic strain nursery Duval 24621 Andrea N. Van Loan 1-May-2009 County
Citrus sinensis sweet orange Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Huang-longbing, Asiatic strain nursery Citrus 25539 Frances L. Parianous, USDA 10-Jun-2009 County
Helianthus annuus common sunflower Cercospora helianthi leaf spot nursery Alachua 25618 nursery owner 12-Jun-2009  
Helianthus debilis dune sunflower Cercospora helianthi leaf spot nursery Alachua 25617 nursery owner 12-Jun-2009  
Persea borbonia red bay Raffaelea lauricola laurel wilt Crystal River Preserve State Park Citrus 25161 Keith Morin, Park Biologist 25-May-2009 County
Plumeria sp. plumeria, frangipani Mycovellosiella sp. leaf spot nursery Collier 25740 Scott D. Krueger 8-Jun-2009 Host
Rubus sp. blackberry Peronospora sparsa downy mildew dooryard Putnam 24958 homeowner 18-May-2009  
Symplocos tinctoria common sweetleaf Exobasidium symploci leaf spot off US 41 Columbia 25256 Wayne E. Bailey 26-May-2009  
Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio spiderwort Kordyana tradescantiae leaf spot dooryard Alachua 25227 Cheryl A. Jones 2-Jun-2009  
Vitis rotundifolia muscadine grape Pyrenochaeta vitis leaf spot nursery Alachua 25259 Cheryl A. Jones 28-May-2009