TRI-OLOGY

Sample Submissions

Sept/
Oct		 Year to Date
Pathology 482 1,966
Bee 5 19
Soil 3 31
Citrus Canker 552 1,767
Citrus Greening 1,122 5,489
Miscellaneous 9 25
Total Samples Submitted 2,173 9,297
Passiflora choconiana (passionflower)

Passiflora choconiana (passionflower)
Photograph courtesy of J.C. Meerman, 2003, Biodiversity in Belize

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.

Passion fruit woodiness virus (a potyvirus), a new State record, was found on Passiflora choconiana (passionflower) at a nursery in Broward County. Symptoms are variable and include problems such as misshapen fruit or chlorotic, mottled and puckered foliage, in addition to the fruit woodiness for which the virus is named. This virus, found for the first time in Florida, has the potential to become a serious pest for the passion fruit industry. This mechanically transmissible virus can be carried by aphids to host plants. (Broward County; 29895; Keith J. Harris;14 October 2009.)

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
Capsicum frutescens hot pepper Colletotrichum coccodes anthracnose dooryard Alachua 29102 Timothy S. Schubert 15-Sep-2009 Host
Dypsis lutescens Areca palm Stigmina palmivora leaf spot nursery Hillsborough 28313 James R. Martin 28-Aug-2009  
Ocimum basilicum sweet basil Peronospora sp. downy mildew nursery Putnam 28425 Sol L. Looker 31-Aug-2009  
Passiflora x belotii hort. Belot's passion flower Passion fruit woodiness virus potyvirus nursery Broward 29896 Keith J. Harris 14-Oct-2009 Host
Passiflora choconiana passion flower Passion fruit woodiness virus potyvirus nursery Broward 29895 Keith J. Harris 14-Oct-2009 State, Host
Pennisetum sp. fountain grass Pyricularia grisea leaf spot nursery Orange 28595 Leslie J. Wilber 2-Sep-2009 Host
Podocarpus sp. podocarpus Cephaleuros virescens algal leaf spot nursery Miami-Dade 30221 Haylett Cruz Escoto 26-Oct-2009 Host
Quercus myrtifolia myrtle oak Cylindrocladium parasiticum root/crown rot nursery Alachua 29252 nursery owner 28-Sep-2009 Host