Abstract
A study of fungi responsible for severe leaf spots of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) in the Hajdúság region (East Hungary), Fusarium sporotrichioides and Alternaria alternata were isolated from infested leaf tissues. F. sporotrichioides was the most virulent fungus in pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy leaves of common milkweed plants. Inoculation of common milkweed (A. syriaca) in different growth stages with F. sporotrichioides yielded similar symptoms as the original ones. Spray mixtures containing 1.0×106 conidia/ml gave effective control when common milkweed plants were sprayed until runoff occurred. Laboratory (wet chamber) and field experiments showed that asexual spores of the fungal pathogen, F. sporotrichioides, exhibited bioherbicidal activity against common milkweed (A. syriaca).
 More efficient control efficacy was observable on elder plants (at flowering stage) than younger ones. These results initiate that this fungus may be a biocontrol agent for controlling this invasive weed but should clarify its hosts because it could infect cultivated plants as well.
Highlights
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) is native to northeastern and north central of United States and some areas of Canada (Bhowmik and Bandeen 1976)
Fungal isolate and inoculum The fungus was readily isolated from diseased tissue and it sporulated abundantly on potato dextrose agar (PDA)
The morphological characters of the colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and the macro, meso- and microconidia on sporodichia on synthetic low-nutrient agar (SNA) were analogous of those specifications which were described for Fusarium sporotrichioides Sherb. by Leslie and Summerell (2006)
Summary
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) is native to northeastern and north central of United States and some areas of Canada (Bhowmik and Bandeen 1976). Infested areas may be found at a wide range of soil conditions almost in every textural group, but infestations are most prevalent on well-drained soils with loamy texture. It is one of the most noxious and invasive weed species in Hungary, which invades arable lands, horticultural and forestry plantations as well as semi-natural habitats, being a reservoir and host for viruses, other pathogens, and pests (Ulmann 1951, Bhowmik and Bandeen 1976, Horváth et al 1983, Horváth 1984, Horváth and Szalay-Marzsó 1984, Almási et al 1999)
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