Pathogenicity Groups in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae on Horticultural Types of Lettuce Cultivars

Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae obtained from six localities in Japan were divided into three patho-genicity groups. Group 1 was highly pathogenic to lettuce cultivars of crisphead and red leaf types and was less pathogenic to butterhead and green leaf type cultivars. Group 2 was highly pathogenic to butterhead type and less pathogenic to crisphead and leaf types. Group 3 was less pathogenic to all lettuce types than groups 1 and 2. These results indicated pathogenic differentiation in F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, roughly relating to horticultural types of host lettuce cultivars. Received 21 February 2001/ Accepted in revised form 28 May 2001