An overview of Verticillium host range.

Abstract

The soilborne fungus causing Verticillium wilt, Verticillium dahliae Kleb, has a wide host range including weeds and economically important crops. New plant species continue to be reported succumbing to this disease worldwide. While field trials have highlighted the benefit of maize and sorghum in reducing soil inoculum levels compared to continuous cotton, glasshouse pathogenicity studies have revealed many other crops rotated with cotton have the potential to be infected. An overview of the status of alternate hosts of V. dahliae and possible implications for disease management will be examined.