Leaf spot and dieback of Buxus caused by Cylindrocladium buxicola

Abstract

Leaf blight symptoms were observed on potted box plants (Buxus sempervirens cv. Suffruticosa and B. microphylla) in a nursery in South Moravia in August 2010. These symptoms were suggestive of box blight on Buxus spp. Characteristics of the visual symptoms, microscopic features, and identification of the isolates using DNA sequencing are described. The causal agent was isolated and identified as Cylindrocladium buxicola Henricot by means of morphological, cultural, and molecular characters. The effect of five commercial fungicides on C. buxicola in vitro was studied. The most effective fungicides (kresoxim-methyl, azoxystrobin, and mancozeb) inhibited conidia germination and mycelial growth (kresoxim-methyl, myclobutanil, and penconazole) of C. buxicola more than 96%.