Plant Disease Management Handbook

Cause Verticillium dahliae, a soilborne fungus that affects many annual and perennial plant species. The fungus produces microsclerotia in the tissues of diseased plants. Microsclerotia are released into the soil as plant tissue decomposes and may persist in soil for many years. The microsclerotia germinate, penetrate roots, and colonize the xylem system. Colonization leads to a decrease in the amount of water able to reach the leaves. Found several times by the OSU Plant Clinic.

Cause The OSU Plant Clinic has found Ascochyta sp. and Pleospora sp. in association with leaf spots of skimmia. Leaves may become wet for extended periods of time in the shade, which is favorable for leaf spotting organisms. These plants are shade loving and may become chlorotic due to poor, dry soil, overexposure to the sun or mites.

Symptoms Size, shape or color have not been recorded or described.

Cause The OSU Plant Clinic has found several soilborne organisms associated with skimmia root problems including Phytophthora sp., Pythium sp., and Fusarium sp. in addition to Armillaria root rot. These pathogens are typically favored by excessive soil moisture and/or poor drainage. Root rots tend to cause plants to wilt rather than become chlorotic.

Cause Septoria leucanthemi, a fungus that overwinters on plant refuse and on living plants. Spores can be spread by splashing water from rain or irrigation. Once on the leaf, spores germinate and enter through stomata. More than 12 hours of wetting is required for spore germination and leaf infection. Optimum temperature for disease expression is 74°F to 79°F. This species has been reported in both Oregon and Washington.

Cause The OSU Plant Clinic has found Fusarium sp. on dusty miller Jacobaea maritima, formerly Senecio cineraria). It survives in the soil as thick-walled, dormant chlamydospores, which germinate in response to exudates from nearby plant roots. Hyphae then penetrate the roots, colonize the cortex and move into the xylem tissue. Small spores (microconidia) are produced and carried up into the plant.