PATHOGENICITY OF CYLINDROCLADIUM-SCOPARIUM TO PASTURE CLOVER AND GRASS SPECIES

Cylindrocladium scoparium was isolated from roots of pasture plant spe cies in the Waikato, North Island, New Zealand. The extent of infectio n, root colonisation and pathogenicity of this fungus was assessed in a series of laboratory and pot experiments. Seedlings of four legume s pecies and eight grass species grown on water agar plates were infecte d within 5 days of inoculation with C. scoparium. Emergence of the fou r legume and three grass species in inoculated sterile sand was signif icantly reduced following inoculation with C. scoparium. Inoculation o f pasture plants grown in fumigated and non-fumigated soil significant ly reduced shoot and root dry matter production of several legume and grass species. Root rot was most severe on legumes. These results demo nstrate that C. scoparium is a soilborne pathogen of pasture plants an d may decrease the yield and persistence of many species.