First report of laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, on redbay (Persea borbonia) in Texas.

Abstract

Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola T.C.Harr., Aghayeva, & Fraedrich, a fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff), is responsible for extensive mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng) and other Lauraceae native to the United States (Fraedrich et al. 2008). The beetle and fungus were introduced into the United States near Savannah, GA, from Asia around 2000, and since then the disease has been spreading rapidly through the southern United States. In March 2015 dead and dying redbay trees were observed in Hardin County, TX, in an area southwest of Lumberton (30.22404° N; 94.23572° W). The trees exhibited wilt-like symptoms (i.e., limp and dead leaves, and streaks of black discoloration in the xylem) and small insect entrance holes characteristic of X. glabratus.

Keywords

laurel wilt, redbay ambrosia beetle

Citation

Menard, R. D.; Clarke, S. R.; Fraedrich, S. W.; Harrington, T. C. 2016. First Report of Laurel Wilt, Caused by Raffaelea lauricola , on Redbay ( Persea borbonia ) in Texas . Plant Disease, Vol. 100(7): 1-2.  DOI:10.1094/PDIS-01-16-0038-PDN