Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Asparagus officinalis L. (asparagus). DISEASE: Vascular wilt. May also cause seedling blight (Graham, 1955) and be part of an Asparagus 'decline' complex together with Fusarium moniliforme[Gibberella fujikuroi] Sheld. (Grogan et al., 1959), where plant vigour is reduced and crop yeild and quality decreases. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widespread where Asparagus is cultivated. Africa: South Africa, Tanzania. Australasia: Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan. Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands. North America: Canada, USA. TRANSMISSION: The fungus may be seed-borne (Inglis, 1980; 67, 2733) and also transmitted via plants raised in contaminated seed bed soil. Local dispersal is by water flow and rain splash of slimy conidia.