Fig. 1. Pythium root rot of Scindapsus aureus:
Healthy rooted cutting (left) and diseased cutting (right). Return to: MREC Home Page
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Plant Pathology Circular No. 178, June, 1977
Fla. Dept. Agric. & Consumer Services
Division of Plant Industry
W. H. Ridings and J. F. Knauss*
Pothos (Scindapsus aureus Engler) is a popular ornamental foliage plant used in hanging baskets and/or as a vine for totem poles. In geographic areas protected from freezing temperatures, this plant has been used as a ground cover or vine, sometimes climbing high into large trees.
One of the more common diseases of pothos is a root and stem rot caused by Pythium splendens Braun (5). Other soil-borne pathogens of pothos include Rhizoctonia sp. (9), Erwinia carotovora (Jones) Bergey et al. (6, 8), and Meloidogyne sp. (3).
SYMPTOMS. Cuttings of pothos may show a bright yellowing of the parent leaf soon after infection by P. splendens (fig. 1). Infection appears to be initiated through the cut basal stem surface and/or nodal areas where the aerial rootlets arise. Infected stems, under optimal conditions for disease development, may completely rot within several days after planting. In severe cases, the characteristic brown to black decay will progress into the petiole and lamina of the parent leaf (5). The emerging shoot and growing point may rot and die if infection of the cutting occurs at a later stage in the propagation cycle. Infected roots of cuttings or potted plants display a characteristic black decay, may become completely necrotic and often leave only the inner stele after the outer cortex sloughs away (fig. 1). Infected stock plants of S. aureus appear chlorotic with reduced leaf size. Pronounced wilting of the plant may occur with a necrotic stem rot extending above the soil line (4).
Fig. 1. Pythium root rot of Scindapsus aureus:
Healthy rooted cutting (left) and diseased cutting (right).
*Associate Plant Pathologist, University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Apopka 32703.
Contribution No. 434, Bureau of Plant Pathology P. O. Box 1269, Gainesville, FL 32602.
Literature Cited
1. Griffin, M. J. 1972. New or uncommon plant diseases and pests. Black stem rot (Pythium splendens) of Pelargonium. Plant Pathol. 21:95.
2. Hendrix, F. F., and W. A. Campbell. 1966. Root rot organisms isolated from ornamental plants in Georgia. Plant Dis. Reptr. 50(6):393-395.
3. Kemp, W. G. 1953. A nematode associated with a root rot of Scindapsus. Plant Dis. Reptr. 37:614-616.
4. Knauss, J. F. 1972. Description and control of Pythium root rot on two foliage plant species. Plant Dis. Reptr. 56(3):211-215.
5. Knauss, J. F. 1972. Field evaluation of several soil fungicides for control of Scindapsus aureus cutting decay incited by Pythium splendens. Plant Dis. Reptr. 56(12):1074-1077.
6. Knauss, J. F., and J. W. Miller. 1973. Description and control of the rapid decay of Scindapsus aureus incited by Erwinia carotovora. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 85:348-352.
7. Knauss, J. F. 1976. Common diseases of tropical foliage plants. III. Soil-borne fungus diseases. Fla. Foliage Grower 13(3):1-8.
8. McFadden, Lorne A. 1961. Nature, cause and control of diseases of tropical foliage plants. Fla. Agric. Exp. Sta. Annu. Rep. 1961:356.
9. Millikan, D. F., and J. E. Smith, Jr. 1955. Foot rot of pothos, a disease caused by Rhizoctonia. Plant Dis. Reptr. 39:240-241.
10. Schulman, Johanna F. 1971. Etiology of a disease complex in Chamadorea elegans. M. S. Thesis, Univ. of Florida. 24 p.
11. Waterhouse, G. M., and J. M. Waterston. 1966. Pythium splendens. CMI Description of pathogenic fungi and bacteria No. 120. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England. 2 p.
12. Wehlburg, C., S. A. Alfieri, Jr., K. R. Langdon, and J.W. Kimbrough. 1975. Index of plant diseases in Florida Fla. Dept. Agric and Consumer Serv., Div. Plant Ind. Bull. 11. 285 p.