Blight of Pincushions (Leucospermum spp.) Caused by Drechslera dematioidea. S. L. Von Broembsen, Senior Agricultural Researcher, Plant Protection Research Institute, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa. Plant Dis. 70:33-36. Accepted for publication 16 January 1985. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-33.

A new disease of cultivated pincushions (Leucospermum spp.), pincushion blight, is described and shown to be caused by Drechslera dematioidea. The disease occurs in the major pincushion production areas of the southwestern Cape Province. Direct crop losses result when blight occurs on flower heads or flower-bearing shoots. Among 10 species, four hybrids, and eight cultivars of Leucospermum recorded as susceptible, L. cordifolium and cultivars derived from L. cordifolium are the most severely affected. The disease also occurs on pincushions in their native habitat. Botryosphaeria dothidea is shown to be an important secondary pathogen of the stem cankers caused by D. dematioidea.