Benomyl in Acetone Eradicates Fusarium moniliforme and F. oxysporum from Asparagus Seed. J. P. Damicone, Technician, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003. D. R. Cooley, Technician, and W. J. Manning, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003. Plant Dis. 65:892-893. Accepted for publication 9 March 1981. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-892.

Treating asparagus seed with 10% chlorine bleach solution, 2,000 ppm benomyl in water, or hot water at 50–55 C significantly reduced but did not eliminate Fusarium moniliforme and F. oxysporum. Hot-water treatments drastically reduced germination. Both fusaria were eradicated from asparagus seeds and germination was stimulated when seeds were soaked in 25,000 ppm benomyl in acetone for 24 hr. A reliable method for producing Fusarium-free asparagus seedlings was developed.