Cooperative Extension Service Plant Disease May 1997 PD-11 Diseases of Leatherleaf Fern Caused by Calonectria and Cylindrocladium Species Janice Y. Uchida and Chris Y. Kadooka, Department of Plant Pathology 1 Typical leaf spots on leatherleaf fern caused by Calonectria theae. Leaf spots are tan in the center and have brown, diffuse edges. Small spots are completely brown or tan. Introduction Leatherleaf fern, Rumohra adiantiformis (G. Forst.) Only a few diseases are known to plague leather- Ching, is the most widely used greenery in the florist leaf fern in Hawaii. Fungal pathogens that have been industry today. The dark green, versatile, long-lasting associated with foliar and root diseases are Calonectria fronds of leatherleaf fern have made it indispensable to theae C. A. Loos, Cylindrocladium pteridis F. A. Wolf, many floral designers across the United States, where Rhizoctonia species, Cercospora species, and Pythium the estimated wholesale value of cut fern fronds exceeds species. The lesion nematode, Pratylenchus, attacks $60 million per year. roots of this fern in Hawaii. In Florida, Cylindrocladium Although a multitude of other types of greenery are floridanum Sobers & C. P. Seymour, C. heptaseptatum available in Hawaii, the leatherleaf fern is heavily used. Sobers, Alfieri & J. F. Knauss, C. pteridis, and C. Local production of cut fern is minimal, and most of scoparium Morg. have been reported as pathogens of the fern used by florists is imported. Local nurseries leatherleaf fern. Rhizoctonia spp. and several other fungi produce potted ferns for use as indoor greens or as land- are also associated with diseased ferns. scape components. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Charles W. Laughlin, Director and Dean, Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Institution providing programs and services to the people of Hawaii without regard to race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or veteran status. PD–11 Diseases of Leatherleaf Fern CTAHR — May 1997 2 3 Leaf spots on leatherleaf fern caused by Cylindrocladium Advanced rots and blights of leatherleaf fern caused by heptaseptatum. Leaf spots that resemble eyes are also formed Calonectria theae. when a dark center is surrounded by tan tissue. In Hawaii, imported fern fronds often originate from through the case. Cylindrocladium heptaseptatum and Florida. The fronds are arranged in tightly packed Rhizoctonia solani have been recovered from these dis- bunches of 15 to 25 leaves, depending on the grade and eased leaves. In Europe, postharvest rots of ferns from producer. The bunches, usually 25 to 40 per case, arrive Florida were shown to be caused by C. heptaseptatum, in waxed boxes lined with a plastic wrap that retains C. pteridis, and a Rhizoctonia species. moisture during transit. These cases are sent to Hawaii Research on the pathology of leatherleaf fern was by air, which subjects ferns to varying ambient tempera- initiated in Hawaii recently, and this paper reports the tures during transit. These temperatures are higher and finding of diseases caused by the fungi Calonectria and generally vary more widely for air transportation com- Cylindrocladium. pared to temperatures in refrigerated containers. Postharvest rots commonly develop on imported ferns Symptoms during certain periods of the year, and the fronds are Leaf spots caused by Calonectria theae begin as small, characteristically brown and water-soaked. Leaf decay dark, water-soaked spots. After a few days, these spots frequently begins within bunches and spreads rapidly form tan to light brown rots, 2 to 5 mm long, with a 2 PD–11 Diseases of Leatherleaf Fern CTAHR — May 1997 4 Wilted leatherleaf fern; leaf stem (petiole) infections and leaf spots caused by Cylindrocladium heptaseptatum result in frond wilt. darker border around the rotted tissue. Many small leaf- pots, in the field, or during harvest. Infections of the mid- lets are killed and larger areas of the leaf are diseased as rib also cause parts of the fronds to bend, wilt, and die. rotted areas coalesce or merge (Fig. 1). Rots are 5 to 11 Infected roots are difficult to recognize but gener- 3 7 mm long ( ⁄16 to ⁄16 inch), and numerous spots of various ally are darker brown than healthy roots. Healthy roots sizes may cover each leaf. On mature fronds, rots are have succulent, greenish-yellow tips. These are miss- dark brown, grayish-brown, or rusty brown, while rots ing in diseased roots, and the entire root system is brittle of young fronds are tan to slightly grayish-brown. Yel- and tears apart with ease. The rhizome (underground lowing is also associated with the infection of younger stem) of the fern is covered with fuzzy, dark brown plant fronds. After a week, some of the tan spots with dark hairs and is also attacked by fungal pathogens. Spots edges develop dark brown centers, giving the spots the and rots are difficult to see but are characterized by soft, appearance of eye-spots (Fig. 2). As rots continue to dark brown areas. Rhizomes that are completely dis- expand, blights or large spots develop (Fig. 3), and parts eased will break off when slightly bent or lightly pres- of the leaf are eventually killed (Fig. 4). Wilted or dried sured. leaves also occur in advanced stages (Fig. 5). Infections A few of the isolates (strains) of Calonectria theae of the midrib cause leaf loss in potted plants. Complete among those that we examined were weaker, and only a loss of the entire leaf is less frequent in mature fields, few small spots developed on ferns inoculated with these but leaf spots reduce yield and quality. Postharvest rots isolates (Fig. 7). can also develop when infected fronds are stored. The symptoms caused by Calonectria theae and Petiole or leaf stem infections are approximately 15 Cylindrocladium pteridis on leatherleaf fern are simi- 1 1 to 40 mm (about ⁄2 to 1 ⁄2 inches) long or more and girdle lar, while those caused by C. heptaseptatum are slightly the petiole, causing fronds to wilt (Fig. 6). Alternatively, more severe. petioles are weakened by these lesions and can break in 3 PD–11 Diseases of Leatherleaf Fern CTAHR — May 1997 5 Leatherleaf fern plants severely diseased by Cylindrocladium heptaseptatum. Disease spread Calonectria theae also produces a second type of The spores of Calonectria theae and the two Cylin- spore called the ascospore. Ascospores are produced in drocladium species are microscopic in size, long and very small, red, fungal fruiting bodies called perithecia. narrow (cylindrical) in shape, and are produced in large When mature, the ascospores are forcibly discharged numbers on the surface of diseased leaves and stems. into the air from perithecia and are carried by air cur- Splashing water from rain or irrigation spreads patho- rents. The potential for disease spread by Calonectria gen spores in the field or greenhouse. Snails, slugs, in- is thus much greater than for fungi that are spread by sects, mice, toads, and other pests also move these splashing spores. Red perithecia are occasionally seen spores. Major distribution of these fungi occurs when on rotting tissue in moist environments. However, other diseased plants are moved from one location to another. fungi that do not cause disease (e.g., non-pathogens or When infected plants are planted in new fields, the dis- saprophytes) may produce red perithecia. Thus, obser- ease develops on these plants and the fungi become es- vation of these red perithecia is a clue to pathogen pres- tablished in the soil. Calonectria is difficult to eradi- ence but must be checked microscopically to accurately cate from soil once it has contaminated a location or identify the pathogen or causal agent of disease. field. Both Calonectria and Cylindrocladium survive in Control infected rhizomes or dead tissue. These pathogens also Moisture control. Moisture favors disease development produce tiny sclerotia that survive in soil for long peri- in this crop. Cultural practices that reduce extended pe- ods without the host. riods of high moisture will reduce disease levels. These include increasing the spacing between plants to de- 4 PD–11 Diseases of Leatherleaf Fern CTAHR — May 1997 6 7 Rots of the midrib and petiole (leaf stem) caused by Cylindro- Small yellow to tan spots are formed by weak isolates of cladium heptaseptatum. Calonectria theae. crease humidity; irrigating the potting media or soil, with it is important to remove all diseased leaves, especially minimal wetting of the foliage; watering in the morning those that have fallen to the ground. Leaves with spots rather than in the late afternoon to reduce leaf-wetness and rotted plant sections should be removed from pot- at night; increasing air movement in the field, green- ted plants. Diseased leaves, rhizomes, and roots should house, or landscape by removing weeds and/or trees in be collected and removed from the nursery. By keeping surrounding areas; and removing older, damaged, or diseased plants, the pathogen is maintained at the nurs- dead leaves. ery and will produce new spores to continue the disease Fern growth benefits from the higher humidities of cycle. the tropics. However, low light levels and excessive hu- While fungal spores are commonly spread to healthy midity result in weak fronds with thin leaf blades. These plants by wind or splashing water, gardeners and nurs- succulent leaves are highly susceptible to infection by ery workers also can carry spores by handling infected pathogens, and disease development is rapid once infec- plants. Small animals, insects, and slugs also move tion occurs. pathogens. Insect populations must be controlled, and Sanitation.