Susceptibility assessment of medicinal plants to some of the major shoot and root fungal diseases

There are fungal diseases infecting medicinal plants on shoots and roots, causing considerable damages in quality and quantitative characters. A four years survey indicated that, there are various fungal infections the roots and shoots of several medicinal plants grown in Isfahan, Iran. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Rose marry (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Viper’s bugloss (Borago officinalis) plants were infected by Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani on roots 40.81%. Sage plants (Salvia officinalis) F. solani 20%, Burdock plants (Aractium lappal) F .oxysporum and F. solani, Verticillium dahliae and V. albo- atrum 20%, Common balm (Melissa officinalisl) F. solani and Rhizoctonia solani 14.47. The two species of Verticillium dahlia and V. albo- atrum with lower frequency on some of the medicinal plants, especially on Lavander, Rose marry, Pudding gross, Pepper mint, Castor (Ricinus communis) was found and there were typical symptoms on Pepper mint. Rhizoctionia solani also causing dry canker on roots and underground stems of some of the medicinal plants in this area. The aerial and or shoot infections were mainly powdery mildews, downy mildews and rust. The naked seed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. sterica) and common pumpkin (Cucurbita popo), Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea 100%, Johns- Wort/Pypericum (Hypericum perforatum), Leveillula guttiferatum and E. hypersici, 100%, Estragon (Artemisia dracunculus) E. artemisiae; Bitter sweet (Solanum dulcamara) E. beceleate; Flixweld (Descurainia sophia) E. communiis; Marsh mallows (Althaea officinalis and Malva silvestris) L. malvacearum, 100%, Licoric (Glycyrrhiza globra) L. leguminosar; Dill (Aniethum graveolens) and Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), L. umbelleferatum 100%. Downy mildews were also observed on Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Peronospora farinose; Summer savory (Satureia hortensis) P. Lamii and Waybread (Plantago major) P. alta. There were also rust diseases on Estragon (Puccinia absinthi), Wild thyme (Thymus serpllum) P. serpylli, P. mentha and also on Pudding grass (Mentha pulegium) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita) P. mentha. White rusts, Albugo candida, were also observed on Flixweld and Mother’s heart (Capsella bursa-pastoris).