Identification of pathogen of Gastrodia elata White Silk Disease.

[Objective] The aim was to identify the pathogen of Gastrodia elata white silk disease and explore prevention and treatment of the disease. [Method] Infected G. elata,collected from low-mountain regions in Yichang city of Hubei Province,were isolated and purified. Then,Koch's Postulate was adopted to inoculate the pathogen. Finally,the identification was carried out according to its biological characteristics. [Result] The pathogen of white silk disease belongs to weak hyperparasite. Because of its poor direct invasion ability,the pathogen usually invades into host through wound infection. According to its hyphae morphology and pathogenicity,the pathogen of G. elata White Silk Disease has been identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.,which belongs to deuteromycotina,hyphomycetes,agonomycetales,fungi of sclerotium genus. [Conclusion] The study will provide references for the control of G. elata White Silk Disease caused by S. rolfsii.