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Alternaria alternata causes petal blight and flower drop in harvested Geraldton waxflower

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Abstract

Six isolates of Altemaria alternata were tested and shown to be pathogenic on detached flowers of Geraldton waxflower cv. Alba. The fungus caused petal blight and abscission ofthe pedicel from inoculated flowers. This finding strengthens the hypothesis that fungal infection of Geraldton waxflower flowers commonly leads to premature flower drop. Furthermore, it shows that, in addition to Bohytis cinerea, which has been shown previously to cause flower abscission, A. alternata can also cause flower abscission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland, 4345, Gatton College, Queensland, Australia

    M. N. Taylor, A. H. Wearing, D. C. Joyce & D. H. Simons

Authors
  1. M. N. Taylor
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  2. A. H. Wearing
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  3. D. C. Joyce
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  4. D. H. Simons
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. H. Wearing.

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Taylor, M.N., Wearing, A.H., Joyce, D.C. et al. Alternaria alternata causes petal blight and flower drop in harvested Geraldton waxflower. Australasian Plant Pathology 27, 207–210 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1071/AP98023

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AP98023

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