Circular 191

A Stem Rot of Cacti

Plant Pathology Circular No. 191, August 1978
Fla. Dept. Agric. & Consumer Services
Division of Plant Industry

W. H. Ridings

A common disease of cacti is stem rot caused by the fungus Drechslera cactivora (Petrak) M.B. Ellis (formerly referred to as Helminthosporium cactivorum Petrak) (4,5). This disease is very destructive and may result in a 50 percent loss of plants of some species (2). In Florida, this disease has been associated more commonly with Cereus spp. and is more frequently reported than stem diseases caused by Phytophthora cactorum (Leb. & Cohn) Schroet., Pythium debaryanum Hesse, Fusarium oxysporum (Schlecht.) Snyd. & Hans., F. episphaeria (Tode) Snyd. & Hans., and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (1).

SYMPTOMS.

The fungus readily infects young cactus seedlings and causes a rapid rot of the cotyledons. On older plants the fungus infects through broken spines, spine puncture wounds, or stomata and results in a top rot beginning on the shoulder or growing point (fig. 1) A basal rot near the soil surface may occasionally occur.

Initially, lesions from infection points appear yellow but enlarge rapidly and become dark green, water soaked, and eventually dark brown. Under continually moist conditions, a rapid rot occurs within 2-4 days and results in the collapse of the entire plant. Under dry conditions, the infected tissue collapses and appears as a sunken dark brown area. However, the lesion becomes active again with the return of moist conditions. During lesion development, the fungus produces numerous spores which can be carried by wind to other plants.

The disease caused by D. cactivora can be distinguished from stem diseases caused by other fungi. Phytophthora cactorum and Pythium debaryanum always develop a wet rot from the base of the stem upwards (2). F. oxysporum and F. episphaeria cause tip and basal dry rots with yellow margins. The rot is slow spreading and results in masses of pink spores. Rhizoctonia solani produces a collar rot with the tissue appearing brown, shriveled, and dry (2).

Fig. 1. Drechslera rot of Cereus peruvianus showing infection at top of stem.

HOST RANGE.

Drechslera cactivora is a reported pathogen on varieties or species of cacti of the following genera: Astrophytum, Cephalocereus, Cereus, Echinocactus, Echinocereus, Espostoa, Ferocactus, Lophocereus, Parodia, Pilocereus, and Selenicereus (2,3).

CONTROL.

In the nursery, a complete sanitation program is necessary for effective control. Diseased plants should be rogued, and soil sterilization should then be employed to reduce carry-over of the pathogen. In addition, care should be taken in the purchase of seed since seed sources from Mexico have been implicated in carrying the disease organism (2).

Reference to University of Florida/IFAS Pest Control Guides

Contribution No. 452, Bureau of Plant Pathology, P. O. Box 1269, Gainesville, FL 32602.

Literature Cited

1. Bureau of Plant Pathology (Plant Disease Records),Division of Plant Industry, Fla. Dept. Agric. and Consumer Services, Gainesville. (unpublished)

2. Durbin, Richard D., Lily H. Davis, and Kenneth F. Baker. 1955. A Helminthosporium stem rot of cacti. Phytopathology 45:509-512.

3. Edinburgh School of Agriculture. 1971. Annual Report. UK. 90p. (RPP 52:2098). 4. Ellis, M. B. 1971. Dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England. 608p.

5. Petrak, F. 1931. Beitrage zur Kenntnis einiger Pilzkrankhelten der Kakteen. Zeitschr. fur Parasitenkunde 2-3:226-249. (RAM 10:798).

6. Pirone, Pascal P. 1970. Diseases and pests of ornamental plants. The Ronald Press Company, New York, 4th ed. 546p.