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Susceptibility of American Beachgrass and Other Dune Plants to Marasmiellus mesosporus. Tyler B. Warren, Former Graduate Student, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607; L. T. Lucas, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607. Phytopathology 65:690-692. Accepted for publication 25 January 1975. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-690.

American beachgrass, Ammophila breviligulata, inoculated with Marasmiellus mesosporus under greenhouse, aseptic, and field conditions died and exhibited characteristic signs and symptoms of Marasmius blight. Other species of dune plants that were susceptible to the fungus under greenhouse conditions were Cakile edentula, Eragrostis spectabilis, Erigeron canadensis, and Panicum amarulum. Hydrocotyle bonairensis, Spartina patens, and Uniola paniculata were not affected in greenhouse tests. A Chloris sp. and Panicum amarum were chlorotic 8 weeks after inoculation, but were not different from controls after 16 weeks. Marasmiellus mesosporus was reisolated from all plants that died after inoculation with the fungus.