Fusarium species Associated with Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Their Role in the Root-Rot of Ginseng Plant

Abstract

A total 115 isolates of Fusarium species from ginseng roots of ‘rotted’, and soils collected during 1982-1985 in Korea, were identified and classified into 11 species with the Snyder & Hansen System (with reference to Gerlach-Nirenberg"s Modified System). The most dominant of these species were F. solani (55 isolates), F. oxysporum (35 isolates), and F. moniliforme (10 isolates) sensu Snyder & Hansen. The other 8 species (15 isolates) were very rarely isolated and previously identified as F. roseum sensu Snyder & Hansen (1945); these were F. equiseti, F. avenaceum, F. graminum, F. arthrosporioides, F. sambucinum, F. reticulatum, F. semitectum and F. poa. Tested for the ability to infect the roots of ginseng (3 yr. old plants) in field condition with the mycelial inoculum, only one isolate of F. solani (34 isolates tested) and one isolate of F. oxysporum (24 isolates tested) were weakly pathogenic to ginseng roots. Any of the isolates (7 isolates tested) of F. moniliforme [Liseola section] were not pathogenic to ginseng. However, all the isolates of tested of the species of Phytophthora cactorum, Pythium ultimum, and Cylindrocarpon destructans were highly pathogenic to ginseng roots. The species of Fusarium solani and Cylindrocarpon destructans were supposed to be a host dominant disease agent in ginseng plant.