Fusicoccum Elaeagni, The Cause of a Canker and Dieback of Russian Olive, Redescribed and Redisposed to the Genus Phomopsis

Carter and Sacamano (1967) described Fusicoccum elaeagni and reported its pathogenicity on Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Russian olive) in Missouri. In a subsequent note, Carter and Dodd (1969) reported the discovery and distribution of F. elaeagni in Illinois. This species was first detected in Canada on nursery stock in 1968. It was subsequently found in Canada on E. angustifolia nursery stock, especially on seedlings recently imported from Europe, in 1969 and 1970 when a survey for this fungus was carried out by officers of the Canadian Plant Protection Division (Arnold and Straby, 1973). In single-conidial cultures isolated from a culture made from the type specimen of F. elaeagni (ILLS 34453) and grown on 2% potato dextrose agar (PDA), pycnidial stromata typical of the form genus Phomopsis were formed. They contained both the a-conidia previously described by Carter and Sacamano, and /-conidia. Both types of conidia were found also in pycnidial stromata formed on the roots of one collection of diseased Elaeagnus angustifolia seedlings made in British Columbia, Canada. On the basis of this new information, this species, Fusicoccum elaeagni Carter & Sacamano, is transferred to the form genus Phomopsis to which it belongs. 1972b. Mushroo sy bolism in Maya c dices. Mycologia 64: 816-824. a son, R G. 1969. Soma: divine ushro m of imm r ality. Harcourt, Brace orld, Inc., New York 381 p.