DISEASE SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY BOTRYTIS-CINEREA IN RUSCUS-HYPOGLOSSUM PLANTS AND THEIR CONTROL

Small spots are a newly-defined manifestation of Botrytis cinerea infection on phylloclades of ruscus. The dark, water-soaked spots encircled by a faint halo, which are found on young phylloclades, become brown lesions later but do not grow in size. Control of all symptoms caused by B. cinerea on ruscus (Ruscus hypoglossum L.), i.e., phylloclade rot or restricted lesions, upper branch rot. and stem canker, was achieved by sprays of fenetrazole (alone), diethofencarb + carbendazim, vinclozolin (alone) or alternately by sprays of diethofencarb + carbendazim, polyoxin B, and polyoxin D. Delay of disease development was achieved by copper sulfate pentahydrate and by the spray adjuvant Nufilm at a high rate of application. Mixing vinclozolin with copper, fenetrazole, TMTD or Nufilm did not control disease better than vinclozolin or fenetrazole alone. Postharvest control of gray mold (up to 72% reduction) in mature branches stored at 18-degrees-C was achieved by some of the above mentioned fungicides and by dichlofluanid, tebuconazole (alone or mixed together), iprodione, polyoxin AL, and vinclozolin + TMTD. Measures designed to improve field control of Botrytis epidemics in ruscus are discussed.