Dr. Nazanin Sadat Ebadi, Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Faghihi, Volume 14, Issue 2 (4-2025)
Abstract
Leaf gall and fasciation disease of ornamental flowers and some crops and vegetables, is caused by the gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus fascians. The symptoms of the disease are leaf gall, fasciation, and witches’-broom of the branches. The disease has been reported sporadically from most of the floricultural areas of the world and is especially important in the cut flower industry. The disease was first reported in 1976 on the petunia from Iran. R. fascians has a wide host range and causes severe symptoms in some susceptible hosts. The pathogen is often spread with rain, irrigation water and during flower harvesting and is also seed-borne in some hosts. Prevention and adherence to cultural hygiene are the most important strategies for disease management. Various aspects of the disease including history, disease symptoms, pathogen characteristics, host range, disease cycle, pathogenesis mechanism, and its management are described in this article
