Seed and Root Rots of Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) Caused by Cylindrocarpon destructans and Fusarium spp.

Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has become one of the most valuable herb crops grown in North America. However, traditional cropping practices are favourable to disease and significant losses due to root disease are common, despite frequent use of fungicides. Seedlots are often contaminated with pathogens, however, little is known about the causes of seed decay and the role of seed pathogens as incitants of root rots. It was shown that both Fusarium spp. and Cylindrocarpon destructans were able to rot seeds and that C. destructans was more virulent than Fusarium spp. on seedling roots. A modified rose bengal agar MRBA) medium (1 g KH$_2$PO$_4$; 0.5 g MgSO$_4$; 50 mg rose bengal; 10 g dextrose; 5 g Bacto peptone; 15 g Bacto agar; 30 mg streptomycin sulfate; 250 mg ampicillin; 10 mg rifampicin; 500mg pentachloronitrobenzene; 500 mg dicloran; and 1 L distilled water) was superior to potato dextrose agar in detecting C. destuctans in diseased roots. Isolation of C. destructans from diseased seedlings arising from seeds sown in replant soil supported the hypothesis that this pathogen is a cause of ginseng replant failure in North America.