[MPWG] basil

[Lucy Pongetti]

Yes, thank you.  

 

Lucy Pongetti
Grants Coordinator
City of Bonita Springs
9101 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-949-6262
email: lucy.pongetti at cityofbonitasprings.org
"The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams. The oak
sleeps in the acorn." James Allen

________________________________

From: E. Steve Schlosser, Jr. [mailto:eschlosserjr at triad.rr.com] On
Behalf Of Kathy Schlosser
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:33 AM
To: Lucy Pongetti; mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Cc: director at herbsociety.org; 'Anne Abbott'; 'Rexford Talbert'; 'Gloria
McClure'; 'Moore, Christine'
Subject: RE: [MPWG] basil

 

Could this be the disease you are referencing?

Kathy Schlosser

"A devastating basil wilt disease caused by a soilborne pathogenic
fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilicum, was first discovered in the
U.S. in 1991 and identified in N.C. in 1992. Plants infected with this
disease usually grow normally until they are six to twelve inches tall,
then they become stunted and suddenly wilt. Initial symptoms usually
include brown streaks on the stems, discoloration of the internal stem
tissue, and sudden leaf drop. Interestingly, only sweet basil is
affected. Some of the specialty basils, such as lemon basil and purple
basil, show some resistance to the disease. 

The disease is introduced into fields, hydroponic systems, and
greenhouse culture primarily through contaminated seed. Growers should
only buy basil seed that has been tested for the fusarium wilt fungus.
Currently, these tests involve growing out a large number of seed and
looking for disease symptoms. This does not guarantee that the seed will
be free of infection, but it greatly reduces the risk. If it is not
possible to obtain tested seed, the seed should be soaked in cold water
for four hours followed by a heat treatment of 20 minutes in 133-136
degree F water. Seed germination rates will probably be reduced by the
hot water treatment, so a germination test should be conducted on a
small lot of the treated seed to determine how much seeding rates need
to be adjusted. Also, the hot water treatment causes a sticky layer to
develop on the outer surface of seed making it difficult to handle. 

Once a field has become infested with the fusarium wilt pathogen,
infective propagules may persist in the soil for 8-12 years. During that
time, growers should avoid growing sweet basil or members of the mint
family. Mints will not exhibit symptoms of the disease but may carry
over the inoculum from year to year. There are currently no products
registered to help control this disease."

Source:  Jeanine M. Davis

Extension Horticultural Specialist

Department of HorticulturalScience

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

North Carolina State University  (1997)

 

 

From: mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Lucy
Pongetti
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:15 AM
To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [MPWG] basil

 

I heard that basil crops around the world are infected with a fungus
that has no cure - what is the real story?

Thanks,

Lucy Pongetti
Grants Coordinator
City of Bonita Springs
9101 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-949-6262
email: lucy.pongetti at cityofbonitasprings.org
"The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams. The oak
sleeps in the acorn." James Allen

 

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