Isolation of Fusarium lateritium from Sweetpotato Seed. C. A. CLARK, Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803-1720. M. W. HOY, Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803-1720. Plant Dis. 78:585-587. Accepted for publication 1 March 1994. Copyright 1994 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-78-0585.

Fusarium lateritium, incitant of .sweetpotato chlorotic leaf distortion, was isolated from acid-scarilicd, surface-disinfested seed of sweetpotato collected from different locations in North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Frequency of isolation ranged from nondetectable to 58% of seed. Relatively high levels of contamination were found in seed as old as 10 yr. The data presented suggest that F. lateritium may be widespread in association with sweetpotato