Colonization of Cones and Seed of Loblolly Pine Following Inoculation with Fusarium subglutinans. Jane Barrows- Broaddus, Chair, Department of Math and Sciences, Brenau College, Gainesville, GA 30501. . Plant Dis. 74:1002-1005. Accepted for publication 4 June 1990. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1990. DOI: 10.1094/PD-74-1002.

Recovery of Fusarium subglutinans from seeds of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) cones inoculated 6, 15, 16, or 17 mo after pollination was significantly more frequent in the 15-mo inoculation treatment (24%) than in all other treatments (0–4%). Inoculation of the cone apex or of scales at the middle of the cone produced infections of scales and seeds; inoculation of peduncles did not. Wounding of uninoculated cones increased the incidence of seed infection with F. subglutinans. Isolation of F. subglutinans from seeds of naturally colonized cones collected from four seed orchards averaged 1–34%. F. proliferatum was commonly isolated from seeds and scales of treated cones and from naturally colonized cones.

Keyword(s): Fusarium moniliforme var. intermedium, Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans, pitch canker.