Fusarium spp.

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

Monica L. Elliott
Other Contacts: Braham Dhillon

This document is PP278, one of a series of the Plant Pathology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date June 2010. Revised August 2013 and January 2017.

Larissa Carvalho Ferreira, Anna Mészáros, and Katia Viana Xavier

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) production in south Florida spans approximately 1,500 acres yearly. Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii (Foa) race 4, emerged as a significant threat to celery production in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in Florida in 2022. Since it was first reported in the United States in Michigan in 1914, Foa has evolved into four different pathogenic races. In 2013, race 4 was first reported in California, ?and since then, it has been causing substantial losses to celery growers. The first occurrence in south Florida is critically alarming because (1) race 4 is the most virulent among the four races, (2) there is a lack of effective chemical and varietal control options for EAA Florida growers, and (3) this pathogen can survive in the soil for many years. This publication provides novel information to growers, Extension agents, and crop consultants of the celery industry in Florida regarding disease identification and management. 

Shouan Zhang, Pamela D. Roberts, Geoffrey Meru, Robert J. McGovern, and Lawrence E. Datnoff

A UF/IFAS numbered Management for Commercial audience(s).

Germán V. Sandoya, Jesse J. Murray, Richard N. Raid, and Christian F. Miller

Fusarium wilt of lettuce is a disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae. The disease is present in all lettuce production areas worldwide. Recently this disease has been identified in Florida in localized fields. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department presents information about the disease, symptoms, and control measures useful to lettuce growers in Florida. Following these recommendations may help to avoid the spread of this fungus in muck soils at the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), where 90% of the lettuce in Florida is planted.