SOURCES OF RHIZOCTONIA SPECIES IN ERICACEOUS PLANT NURSERIES

Sources of Rhizoctonia solani and binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. were det ermined within ericaceous plant nurseries. Both pathogens were isolate d from stock plants, nursery soils and used growing media, polythene s heeting, plastic propagation trays and capillary matting. No Rhizocton ia spp. were isolated from unused materials. Infection of cuttings of Erica vagans by a binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. was initiated from a ran ge of contaminated or infected sources. The importance of these findin gs for the control of Rhizoctonia spp. on ericaceous plant nurseries i s discussed.