Leptosphaeria maculans. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Leptosphaeria maculans. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On Brassica spp. ; Brassica oleracea, B. rapa and B. napobrassica and other Cruciferae. DISEASE: Variously known as canker, dry rot and black leg, mainly of Brassica oleracea, B. rapa and B. napobrassica. Several cruciferous genera are attacked. The first symptoms are seen on seedlings as pale lesions on the stem, cotyledons and first true leaves. These become greyish with the pycnidia developing in their centres. On older plants in the field lesions on the leaves and other above-ground parts often have purplish margins. The stem, root and bulb are attacked causing necrotic, girdling cankers and transverse splits; severe infection of stem or root leads to wilt or the plant toppling over. Pycnidia develop abundantly on all infected areas. The perfect state has been reported from Australia, Canada, England and the Republic of Ireland (44, 65; 45, 1568; 48, 51). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widespread but mostly in temperate regions (CMI Map 73 ed. 3, 1969). Records not yet mapped are: Australia (NT), Brazil, Costa Rica, Salvador, USSR (Ukraine). TRANSMISSION: The seed is invaded, dormant mycelium forming beneath the seed coat (11: 489; 19: 58). A recent survey in Denmark (48, 2641) showed seed of B. oleracea var. capitata to be most frequently infected and a longevity of 3 yr 8 months reported. From New Zealand a longevity of 14 months was found (39: 200). Seed treatment for control of conidial infection has led to the recognition that the disease may also be introduced by air-borne ascospores from host debris (42: 62; 49, 1822; 50, 2027). A persistence of 3 yr in soil organic matter can occur (9: 218; 29: 448).