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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363808
Research Project: Biologically Based Technologies for Control of Soil-Borne Pathogens of Vegetables and Ornamentals

Location: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory

Title: First report of a Ceratobasidium sp. AG-K isolate causing lily root rot in Oregon

Author
item Lakshman, Dilip
item Kamo, Kathryn
item DASGUPTA, MRINAL - Visva Bharati University

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2019
Publication Date: 9/18/2019
Citation: Lakshman, D.K., Kamo, K.K., Dasgupta, M.K. 2019. First report of a Ceratobasidium sp. AG-K isolate causing lily root rot in Oregon. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-19-1014-PDN.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-19-1014-PDN

Interpretive Summary: Easter lilies are grown primarily in the Pacific Northwest for bulb production, and are susceptible to attack by multiple soilborne pahogens. Earlier, we demonstrated that isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium tricinctum, Rhizoctonia AG-I, Rhizoctonia AG 2-1, and the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans together or in various combinations cause root lesion and rots in lilies. In this communication, we have demonstrated that Ceratobasidium sp. AG-K causes root rot in lily. This study adds to the list of a complex set of soil pathogens that cause disease in Easter lily, and the information will be useful in developing effective bulb treatment and control of diseases in this important ornamental crop.

Technical Abstract: A disease survey was undertaken to profile the soilborne fungal pathogens causing root rot and lesions on lily (Lilium longiflorum) cv. Nellie White in Brookings, Oregon, Curry County in 2016. Diseased root samples were either blackened or rotted. Based on microscopic and ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, two fungal isolates were identified as a single haplotype of Ceratobasidium sp. AG-K and numerated as ELRF 12. Upon inoculation on roots of in vitro grown Easter lily plants, ELRF 12 caused necrotic brown lesions on roots. Lactophenol staining and microsopy showed both inner and outer mycelia colonization on infected roots. Additionally, the ELRF 12 caused necrosis and rot upon inoculation to roots of diploid strawberry runners (Hawaii4 F7-3) and necrotic spots on detached leaves of Nicotiana glutinosa and N. paniculata. This constitutes the first worldwide report of an isolate of Ceratobasidium sp. AG-K infecting lilies. The presence of pathogenic AG-K isolates in lily roots and their impact on lily bulb and/or root disease development either individually or as a complex remains to be investigated for effective disease management.