Abstract :
Cytindrocarpon, Cylindrocladium and Fusarium spp. were
often isolated from the woody roots, stem-base and lower
foliage of diseased container-grown Calluna vulgaris and
Erica spp. plants collected from English and Scottish
nurseries. The highest isolation frequencies were obtained
for Cylindrocarpon destrucians, Cylindrocladium scoparium,
Cylindrocladium ilicicola. Fusarium tricinctum,
Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium sporotrichioides. Isolations
of these fungi were made more frequently from
diseased plants that were at least 1-year-old. The percentage
incidence of Cylindrocarpon, Cylindrocladium
and Fusarium spp. did not differ between Scottish and
English nurseries. Cvlindrocarpon desiructans. Cvlindrocladium
ilicicola and C. scoparium were more pathogenic
to rooted C. vulgaris cuttings than F. tricinctum. F. avenaceum
or F. sporotrichioides in laboratory and glasshouse
tests. The high isolation frequency of Cylindrocarpon.
Cylindrocladium and Fusarium spp., and their pathogenicity
in tests, suggests that these fungi are involved in
root, stem-base and lower foliage diseases in crops of C.
vulgaris and Erica spp. The importance of these findings
for the integrated control of diseases on ericaceous piant
nurseries is discussed
