A Cylindrocladium as the cause of a shoot wilt of varieties of plum and cherry used for rootstocks

Abstract

Summary A Cylindrocladium has been isolated from the underground parts of wilted layer shoots of plum, cherry, peach, and apricot, and from plum cuttings. In its morphology the fungus conforms to Cylindrocladium scoparium Morgan. Its habit in cultures, however, is quite distinct from the fungus, referred to C. scoparium, isolated by Massey from roses. Experiments have shown that the typical symptoms of the disease can be induced by inoculating the lower leaves of shoots on plum stools in pots and then covering them with soil. Measures for the control of the disease are suggested.