Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Boxwood Blight Information (Not found in Illinois)

This blog is in response to all the questions that I have been receiving about a newly discovered disease in the US called Boxwood Blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum).  This disease has not been found in Illinois, but has been found in other locations in the US:
Date Confirmed  in  US          Location___
10/26/2011                 Surry County, North Carolina
10/26/2011                 Middlesex, Fairfield, Hartford,  
                                    New London Counties,  
                                    Connecticut
11/01/2011                 Carroll County, Virginia
12/13/2011                 Providence County, Rhode Island
12/14/2011                 Prince Georges County, Maryland
12/19/2011                 Barnstable County, Massachusetts
12/20/2011                 Washington County, Oregon
12/23/2011                 Westchester County, New York
1/24/2012                   Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
3/26/2012                   Lake County, Ohio
Survey Status of Boxwood Blight; Leaf and Stem Blight


Boxwood Blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum

History:

•This disease was 1st described in UK –mid 1990’s

•2002 found in New Zealand and disease was named in UK

•Since 2002, this disease was reported throughout Europe

Host: Buxus species

1). Initial Symptoms dark to light brown spots/lesions on leaves.  Leaves turn brown/straw colored and defoliation occurs quickly

2). Also infects stems with distinctive dark brown to black lesions (leads to plant death)

3.)  Does not appear to affect roots

CONSIDERED A SERIOUS DISEASE
Key: DETECTION and DESTROY
Fungicides do not appear promising, but research is ongoing
If you suspect this disease on boxwood, please send a sample to a NPDN Plant Diagnostic Lab near you.