A new anthracnose on Sansevieria
Posted on Nov. 1, 2023 / Plant Pests / Subscribe 0
By: Josiah Marquez
Introduction:
Sansevieria, also known as snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata; syn. Dracaena trifasciata), is a hardy drought-tolerant plant originating in the East African and southeast Asian region (Brand and Wichura, 2023). With few pests and diseases, Sansevieria plants are a popular plant for Hawaii’s commercial and residential landscape. They are also popular houseplants. However, a new anthracnose on Sansevieria has been detected causing water-soaked lesions and leaf blight symptoms by the pathogen Colletotrichum sansevieriae.
Pathogen Diagnosis & Distribution:
Sansevieria plants showing blighted symptoms (Fig. 1) were first detected from a garden store on Oahu during a routine survey conducted by the plant pathologist, Josiah Marquez, at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA). It was tentatively identified as a Colletotrichum sansevieriae by the HDOA Plant Disease Clinic and confirmed as Colletotrichum sansevieriae by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. This pathogen was first described in the subtropical Yoron Island of Japan (Nakamura, 2006). Since then, it has been reported in Korea (Park et al., 2013), Australia (Aldaoud et al. 2011), Florida, USA (Palmateer et al, 2012), and Germany (Brand and Wichura, 2023).
Figure 1. Symptoms of Anthracnose of Sansevieria from a garden store on Oahu. Photo Credit: Josiah Marquez
Background and Significance:
Colletotrichum sansevieriae has a narrow host range, only known to infect Sansevieria plants. This pathogen is comparatively weak and manageable, therefore, it possesses a low economic and ecological risk (Brand and Wichura, 2023). Other plants that have been tested but do not serve as a host include beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), melon (Cucumis melo), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), oriental lily (Lilium orientalis), nalta jute (Corchorus olitorius), spineless yucca ( Yucca elephantipes), century plant (Agave americana), Dracaena (Dracaena sanderiana and D. concinna), ti (Cordyline Terminalis), papaya (Carica papaya), mango (Mangifera indica) (Nakamura, 2006). However, this disease can greatly affect the marketability of Sansevieria plants if left unchecked (Aldaoud et al., 2011).
Symptoms & Management:
Symptoms consist of round water-soaked brown lesions. As the disease progresses, lesions coalesce and form large blight symptoms covering a large proportion of the leaf (Aldaoud et al., 2011; Nakamura, 2006). These lesions will eventually develop concentric rings of black acervuli (Park et al., 2013). Since this pathogen disperses by water-splash, changing overhead irrigation to drip or protecting plants from rain splashes can reduce the spread of this disease. Avoiding mechanical injury can also reduce entry points for this pathogen. A good fungicide rotation program may also protect healthy plants from getting infected.
Figure 2. Early symptoms consist of water-soaked brown lesions (A) that mature into coalesced lesions (B) resulting in foliage blight. Photo Credit: Josiah Marquez.
Monitor & Report:
It is our kuleana to prevent the spread of this disease throughout the islands of Hawaii. If you import Sansevieria plants from the mainland or export them between islands, please make sure to have them inspected by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture plant quarantine inspectors (https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/pq/pqcontacts/). If you suspect anthracnose, please contact your local University of Hawaii extension agent (https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ce/Find-Us).
Aldaoud, R., DeAlwis, S., Salib, S., Cunnington J.H., and Doughty S. 2011. First record of Colletotrichum sansevieriae on Sansevieria sp. (mother-in-law’s tongue) in Australia. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 6, pp. 60–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13314-011-0020-z
Brand, T., Wichura, A. 2023. First Report on Colletotrichum sansevieriae Causing Anthracnose of Sansevieria trifasciata in Germany. Gesunde Pflanzen 75, pp. 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00777-1
Nakamura, M., Ohzono, M., Iwai, H. 2006. Anthracnose of Sansevieria trifasciata caused by Colletotrichum sansevieriae sp. nov. Journal of General Plant Pathology 72, pp. 253–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-006-0280-1
Palmateer A. J., Tarnowski T. L. B., and Lopez P. 2012. First Report of Colletotrichum sansevieriae Causing Anthracnose of Sansevieria trifasciata in Florida. Plant Disease 96(2), pp. 293.
Park J. H., Han K. S, Kim J. Y., and Shin H. D. 2013. First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum sansevieriae on Sansevieria in Korea. Plant Disease 97(11), pp. 1510.
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