Fusarium Redolens f.sp asparagi, Causal Agent of Asparagus Root Rot, Crown Rot and Spear Rot

Two Fusarium species, F. oxysporum f.sp. asparagi and F. proliferatum, are known to be involved in the root and crown rot complex of asparagus. We have investigated reports on the involvement of F. redolens, a third species, which until recently was considered conspecific with F. oxysporum because of morphological similarities. RFLP analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region and AFLP fingerprinting identified eight strains from asparagus unambiguously as F. redolens. Four of these were tested and found to be pathogenic to asparagus either in this study (two strains) or in a previous one in which they were classified as F. oxysporum (three strains). Disease symptoms and disease development were the same as with F. oxysporum f.sp. asparagi and F. proliferatum. Present data and literature reports identify F. redolens as a host-specific pathogen involved in root, crown and spear rot of asparagus. The pathogen is formally classified as F. redolens Wollenw. f.sp. asparagi Baayen.