ISOLATION OF FUSARIUM-LATERITIUM FROM SWEET-POTATO SEED

Fusarium lateritium, incitant of sweetpotato chlorotic leaf distortion , was isolated from acid-scarified, surface-disinfested seed of sweetp otato collected from different locations in North America, South Ameri ca, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Frequency of isolation ranged from no ndetectable to 58% of seed. Relatively high levels of contamination we re found in seed as old as 10 yr. The data presented suggest that F. l ateritium may be widespread in association with sweetpotato.