Fusarium fungi as a pathogen causing hop wilt

Abstract

Foliar chlorosis and wilting of plants have been noticed in many hop gardens around the Vojvodina Province, Yugoslavia. Fusarium fungi have been isolated most frequently from samples of infected plants. They appear to be predominantly responsible for the observed infections. The fungi first colonize the underground plants parts (roots, crown and rootstocks) and the basal part of the stem, from where disperse and attack the neighboring vascular tissues. The interrupted delivery of water and nutrients to the terminal plant parts causes chlorosis, necrosis and wilting first of the apical leaves and then of lower leaves. The infected bins are thinner than the healthy ones and are easily snapped from the underground parts. If infected, individual bins or entire plants may wilt. Laboratory researched and pathogenicity tests revealed several Fusarium species: F. oxysporum, F. culmorum, F. solani, F. proliferatum and F. acuminatum as the causal agents of hop wilting. F. oxysporum and F. culmorum were most frequently isolated.