Fusarium foetens found in Germany
The NPPO of Germany recently informed the EPPO Secretariat about the current situation of Fusarium foetens, a new pathogen of begonias. From 2001 to 2003, several regional plant protection services (Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen) reported a new Fusarium disease occurring on begonias. The causal agent was described by Schroers et al. (2004) as Fusarium foetens. In Germany, the disease seems to occur occasionally. In 2005, one regional plant protection service has notified four cases of F. foetens. In all cases, Begonia x hiemalis hybrids were infected. Affected plants showed wilting, discoloration, putrescence, and finally died. Most infected plants originated from the Netherlands, but in some cases from non-European countries.
The pest status of F. foetens in Germany is officially declared as follows: Present; under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Germany, 2005-07.
Schroers HJ, Baayen RP, Meffert JP, de Gruyter J, Hooftman M, O'Donnell K (2004) Fusarium foetens, a new species pathogenic to begonia elatior hybrids (Begonia x hiemalis) and the sister taxon of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex. Mycologia 96(2), 393-406.