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FPL 61 - Fusarium Root Rot

The information accessed from this screen is based on the publication: Lock, W. 1973. Fusarium Root Rot on Douglas-fir Nursery Seedlings. Forestry Canada, Forest Insect and Disease Survey, Forest Pest Leaflet No. 61 7p.

Introduction

Fusarium root rot or "late" damping-off of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. pini (Hartig) S. & H. (8) (Fungi Imperfecti), has been a chronic problem in coastal British Columbia forest nurseries, especially at Duncan (10) and more recently, to a lesser extent, at Green Timbers and Surrey nurseries. Damping-off and root rot are the most serious diseases of coniferous nursery seedlings throughout the world.

Damping-off is caused by a number of soil-inhabiting fungi that rapidly decay young succulent seedlings. Some of these fungi may cause root rot of older seedlings that have strong supporting stem tissues. This pest leaflet discusses the latter problem. Root rot kills seedlings and may also cause them to be culled because of chlorosis and stunting. Seedling vigor may also be reduced and adversely affect outplanting survival.

For more information, see the Fusarium Root Rot Forest Pest Leaflet in the Canadian Forest Service bookstore.