Fusarium wilt in cotton - a new record in Australia

Abstract

In March 1993 Fusarium oxysporum was consistently isolated from the vascular system of wilted cotton plants from the Brookstead/Cecil Plains area of the Darling Downs (Queensland). Pathogenicity studies and re-isolation from the apical region of inoculated seedlings indicated that it was a true vascular wilt pathogen and confirmed that it was Fusarium oxysporum f.sp, vasinfectum. This appears to be the first identification of this pathogen in Australia. Since 1993 the fungus has been found on other farms on the Darling Downs and in December 1994 it was also isolated from plants grown in the Boggabilla area of New South Wales.