First Report of Southern Blight on Mukdenia and Lily of the Valley in Japan

Abstract

Southern blight of mukdenia (Mukdenia rossii) and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis var. majalis) occurred in Tokyo Metropolis and Saitama Prefecture in summer 2013. The causal fungus isolated from the diseased plants was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. based on morphological characteristics as well as molecular analyses of the rDNA-ITS region. Inoculation tests confirmed that the fungus was a causal agent of the diseases. This is the first report of the diseases in Japan.