Fusarium foetens is extending its host range and distribution
Fusarium foetens (EPPO A2 List) was added to the EPPO List in 2007 because it causes a major disease on Hiemalis begonias (Begonia × hiemalis or begonia elatior hybrids). Since then, it was reported from new host plants and seems to have extended its distribution, with findings on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in China (EPPO RS 2023/237) and on rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) in South Africa (RS 2023/238).
The following new reports were found in recent literature. It may be noted that F. foetens is usually found in association with other Fusarium species.
In China, F. foetens was observed causing root and stem rots in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) in Guizhou Province (Yi et al., 2025) and in Jilin (Xie et al., 2025). It is also associated with root rot of honeyberry plants (Lonicera caerulea) in Jilin (Qiao et al., 2025).
In Colombia, Fusarium foetens is reported to cause stem rot in pitahaya crops (Selenicereus megalanthus) (Masmela Mendoza et al., 2026).
In Egypt, F. foetens and Fusarium falciforme are reported to cause root rot and wilt of schefflera plants (Heptapleurum arboricola) (Imara et al., 2024)
In Korea Republic, F. foetens was reported as one of the Fusarium species involved in potato dry rot disease, together with F. citricola, and F. solani (Kim et al., 2024)
In Saudi Arabia F. foetens was reported on symptomatic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants growing in nurseries and greenhouses in the Qasim and Riyadh provinces in July 2023. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that F. oxysporum, F. foetens, Ectophoma multirostrata and Pygmaeomyces thomasii were causal agents of tomato root rot and wilting (Hamed et al., 2026).
In Tunisia, F. foetens is associated with fungal disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in several regions (Ben Romdhane et al., 2025)
In Zimbabwe, F. foetens was reported as one of the Fusarium species causing wilt of potato and tobacco (Chinheya et al., 2024).
Sources
Ben Romdhane S, Weinmann M, Babalola OO, Mrabet M (2025) Distribution and pathogenicity of Cicer arietinum infecting fungi in Tunisian agricultural lands. Botany 103,1-13.
Chinheya CC, Sagonda T, Karavina C, Marunda M, Jere J, Zvobgo G, Marwa T, Dimbi S (2024) Genetic diversity of Fusarium isolates infecting potato (Solanum tuberosum) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) crops in Zimbabwe. African Journal of Biotechnology 23(3), 121-130.
Hamed KE, Haddadi AM, Omar AF, Tami MS, Rani R, Udavant RN, Ashraf S (2026) Molecular identification and pathogenicity of novel tomato root rot fungi, with insights into cultivar resistance in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Basic Microbiology 66(1), e70139.
Kim NS, Hong SJ, Won HS, Kim BS, Gwon SH. Identification and pathogenicity of species isolated from stored potato tubers showing symptoms of dry rot disease. Potato Research 67(4), 1797-1808. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-024-09709-0
Imara DA, Ghebrial EW, EL-Abeid SE, Hussein EM, Elsayed MI, Yousef RS (2024) Reduction of oxidative damage caused by Fusarium falciforme and Fusarium foetens in schefflera plants using chitosan nanoparticles loaded with l-proline or indole butyric acid. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture 11(1), 167. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-024-00680-z
Masmela Mendoza JE, Lizarazo-Forero LM (2026) Caracterización de la comunidad de hongos fitopatógenos en cultivos de pitahaya amarilla (Selenicereus megalanthus) de Boyacá, Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 133. https://doi.org/10.21829/abm133.2026.2476
Qiao S, Wei D, Chen H, Yu J, Gong S, Niu Z, Zhou A, Qiao K, Wang J (2025) The defense response of honeyberry to root rot pathogens: evidence based on pathogen identification and host mechanism. Plants 14(24), 3820. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243820
Xie Z, Li H, Gao C, Wang J, Zhang X, Lu B, Yang L, Zhang Y, Gao J (2025) Cross pathogenicity, host range and molecular characteristics of Fusarium oxysporum species complex populations isolated from tobacco in Jilin Province, China. Plant Pathology 74(1), 84-100.
Yi B, Ma J, Luo L, Ghani MI, Siddique JA, Tang X, Cernava T, Chen X (2025) First report of Fusarium foetens causing tobacco root and stem rots in Guizhou, China. Journal of Phytopathology 173, e70104.