Myrothecium Leaf Spots and Rots
Myrothecium leaf spots and rots
Common name
Myrothecium leaf spot and rots
Causal agent
Myrothecium roridum is a fungal disease caused by the genus myrothecium. It mainly affects bedding plants and perennials.
Scientific name
Myrothecium roridum
Symptoms & Signs
It causes small, dark brown lesions on the leaves that expand gradually, making a hole in the leaf. A few raised, black structures may also be seen on the lesions with a white tuft over them called sporodochia. The crown and petioles also show brown soft rot, a characteristic feature of myrothecium leaf spot and rot.
Transmission
The fungi produce spores in the sporodochia, which travels by means of water, air, and contact with the infected plant. Warm, wet conditions favor the growth of spores and the spread of the disease.
Time of concern
Early spring to late summer
Common hosts
Pansies
Begonias
Coneflower
Verbenas