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<p>Could this be the disease you are referencing?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Kathy Schlosser<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>“A devastating basil wilt disease caused by a soilborne pathogenic fungus, <i>Fusarium
oxysporum</i> <i>f. sp</i>. <i>basilicum</i>, 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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Source: Jeanine M. Davis<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Extension Horticultural Specialist<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Department of HorticulturalScience<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>North Carolina State University (1997)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lucy
Pongetti<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 14, 2008 8:15 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [MPWG] basil<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I
heard that basil crops around the world are infected with a fungus that has no
cure – what is the real story?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lucy
Pongetti<br>
Grants Coordinator<br>
City of Bonita Springs<br>
9101 Bonita Beach Road<br>
Bonita Springs, FL 34135<br>
239-949-6262<br>
email: <a href="mailto:lucy.pongetti@cityofbonitasprings.org">lucy.pongetti@cityofbonitasprings.org</a><br>
"The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams. The oak
sleeps in the acorn." James Allen</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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