Stub Dieback of Carnation Caused by Fusarium graminearum

A disease survey on the carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) wilt was conducted during the high temperature period (June through August) and the low temperature period (February through May) in 58 greenhouses of its major cultivation areas, including Pusan, Kimhae, and Changwon in Korea from 1998 to 1999. The disease incidence was averaged 5.4% and 11.9% in the low and high temperature periods, respectively. Severe damage was found in summer with high incidences of around 50% in some greenhouses. Close examination of the symptoms and isolation of the causal agent revealed that there was a new disease different from Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, which was determined as the stub dieback caused by F. was cetermined as the stub dieback caused by F. graminearum (teleomorph : Gibberella zeae). The stub dieback symptoms involved brown rot of stem that started usually from the portion of cutting without discoloration of inner vascular tissues. Seven out of 38 isolates from the wilted plants were identified as F. graminearum, while the others as F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi. Mycological characteristics of the stub dieback pathogen including colony color, absence of microconidia, and the shape of macroconidia, were consistent with F. graminearum previously described. This is the first report of the carnation stub dieback in Korea.