TRI-OLOGY

Sample Submissions

Nov/
Dec		 Year to Date
Pathology 338 2,304
Bee 2 21
Citrus Canker 396 2,163
Citrus Greening 5,941 11,430
Soil 3 34
Miscellaneous 12 37
Total Samples Submitted 6,692 15,989
Persea americana (avocado) healthy leaves and fruit

Persea americana (avocado) healthy leaves and fruit
Photograph courtesy of Walter Hodge, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

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 sampled on Persea borbonia (red bay) in a DPI research laboratory. Isolates of the Raffaelea lauricola, the laurel wilt pathogen, were used to inoculate containerized avocados (Persea americana Mill. ‘Simmonds’). The inoculated avocados developed laurel wilt symptoms, after which discolored vascular tissue was cultured in order to recover the fungal pathogen. The pathogenic fungus was recovered from all inoculated plants. (Alachua County; P2009-32351, -32352, -32354, -32355, -32360, -32655; Robert M. Leahy and Jodi L. Hansen; November and December 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
Allium porrum garden leek Puccinia allii rust Agricultural Inspection Station Suwannee 31826 Christine A. Zamora, Amber L. Roux 6-Dec-09  
Cyperus papyrus papyrus Leptosphaeria sp. leaf spot nursery Marion 31460 Gene Gruenbeck 25-Nov-09  
Dianthus sp. dianthus, pinks Burkholderia andropogonis bacterial leaf spot nursery Marion 31415 Gene Gruenbeck 25-Nov-09  
Epipremnum aureum pothos Phytophthora tropicalis leaf blight nursery Lake 31249 Harry L. Morrison 20-Nov-09  
Feroniella oblata Indo-China feroniella Cephaleuros virescens algal leaf spot farm Martin 32414 Kenneth L. Hibbard 15-Dec-09 Host
Fragaria x ananassa hybrid strawberry Cylindrocladiella sp. root rot dooryard Palm Beach 32032 Bruce Johnson 10-Dec-09 Host
Ilex glabra galberry Cylindrocarpon sp. root rot dooryard Palm Beach 30833 Wayne W. Bailey 2-Nov-09  
Ilex glabra galberry Thielaviopsis basicola root rot dooryard Palm Beach 30833 Wayne W. Bailey 2-Nov-09  
Ilex glabra galberry Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot dooryard Palm Beach 30833 Wayne W. Bailey 2-Nov-09  
Neoregelia sp. bromeliad Morenoina sp. black mildew/leaf spot nursery Sarasota 31728 Karen L. Etchells 1-Dec-09 Host
Pachysandra sp. pachysanda Volutella pachysandricola blight nursery Marion 29648 Ron Love 9-Nov-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt dooryard Brevard 30659 Timothy S. Schubert 4-Nov-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt roadside Highlands 30948 Douglas Restom Gaskill, Shi-Yih 'Edward' Hung, MonaLisa Payne 16-Nov-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt roadside Highlands 30964 Douglas Restom Gaskill, Shi-Yih 'Edward' Hung, MonaLisa Payne 16-Nov-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt DPI lab Alachua 32351 Robert M. Leahy, Jodi L. Hansen 22-Dec-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt DPI lab Alachua 32352 Robert M. Leahy, Jodi L. Hansen 22-Dec-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt DPI lab Alachua 32354 Robert M. Leahy, Jodi L. Hansen 22-Dec-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt DPI lab Alachua 32355 Robert M. Leahy, Jodi L. Hansen 22-Dec-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt DPI lab Alachua 32360 Robert M. Leahy, Jodi L. Hansen 22-Dec-09  
Persea americana avocado Raffaelea lauricola Laurel wilt DPI lab Alachua 32655 Robert M. Leahy, Jodi L. Hansen 18-Nov-09