APS Abstract of Presentation

Pathology and treatment of American ginseng seed
S. N. HILL (1), M. K. Hausbeck (1)
(1) Plant Pathology Dept., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Phytopathology 98:S67

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is a perennial medicinal herb propagated by seeds. With an average seed yield of 336.3 kg/ha and current market prices of $55/kg, each ha represents a value of $18,537. While a number of pathogens can reduce harvest yields significantly by causing root rot and foliar blight, seed rots may also occur. Seeds may become diseased while on the plant with further infection occurring during stratification. Planting infected seed jeopardizes a grower’s ability to produce a quality crop. The objective of this study was to survey seed lots from Wisconsin and Canada. Alternaria, Cylindrocarpon, Botrytis, Fusarium spp. and oomycete pathogens were obtained from the drupe tissue, seed coat and endosperm of green seed. Alternaria, Cylindrocarpon and Fusarium spp. were also recovered from stratified seed. In an effort to reduce Fusarium inoculum on seeds, fungicides and biopesticides were evaluated as treatments. Only captan consistently reduced Fusarium inoculum. Other products tested including sodium hypochlorite, fludioxonil, Bacillus pumilus, B. subtilis, and polyoxin D zinc salts were ineffective. Germination for all treatments was variable among replications.

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