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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #373732

Research Project: Enhanced Alfalfa Germplasm and Genomic Resources for Yield, Quality, and Environmental Protection

Location: Plant Science Research

Title: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. medicaginis (Fusarium wilt of alfalfa)

Author
item Samac, Deborah - Debby

Submitted to: Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) Invasive Species Compendium
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2020
Publication Date: 9/17/2020
Citation: CABI, 2020. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. medicagis [original text by DA Samac]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/24661

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium oxysporum is a common soil inhabitant around the world. It is regarded as a species complex that includes non-pathogenic, plant pathogenic, and human pathogenic strains. The plant pathogens cause wilt diseases on most crop plants. F. oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis causes a fatal wilt disease on Medicago sativa, M. truncatula, and Vicia sativa. It is found throughout the United States and in Alberta, Canada. The limited reports of Fusarium wilt of alfalfa outside of these areas suggests that the pathogen is native to North America. The pathogen is potentially invasive through movement of infested soil; it is not seed born. Infected alfalfa plants usually die several months after infection and can lead to significant stand and yield losses. Nearly all modern commercial cultivars are highly resistant or resistant to Fusarium wilt. F. oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis is not on an alert list nor is it a regulated pathogen.