Distribution, Impact, and Soil Environment of Phoma sclerotioides in Northeastern U.S. Alfalfa Fields

We report brown root rot (BRR) of alfalfa, caused by the fungal pathogen Phoma sclerotioides, for the first time in the eastern United States. Alfalfa production fields in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire were sampled in spring 2005, and soil characteristics were related to variability in BRR incidence and severity in two New York fields sampled extensively. BRR was detected in 8 of 10 fields sampled in New York, 6 of 7 fields sampled in Vermont, and 5 of 6 fields sampled in New Hampshire. Lesions on both roots and crowns were common in all three states, and most BRR lesions extended into the cortical tissues. Diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of P. sclerotioides isolates produced a single amplicon of the expected size. In vivo conidia and pycnidia morphology of northeastern isolates was consistent with published descriptions of P. sclerotioides, and P. sclerotioides was reisolated from symptomatic lesions after pathogenicity testing. In two New York fields sampled extensively, BRR severity varied with soil strength, soil texture, soil saturation, and alfalfa stand density. The spatial pattern of BRR within fields suggests the pathogen was not recently introduced. The results suggest BRR is widespread in alfalfa production fields in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.