Disease Note.

First Report of the Foliar Nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae Infecting Lamium. J. A. LaMondia, Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor 06095. Plant Dis. 79:642. Accepted for publication II April 1995. Copyright 1995 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-79-0642A.

Stunting and foliar symptoms consisting of irregular leaf spots, necrosis, and leaf drop were observed in rooted cuttings of the perennial groundcover Lamium maculatum L. 'White Nancy' (common name, dead nettles) in a commercial nursery in 1995. Over 30% of approximately 1,500 cuttings were affected. Stock plants were symptomatic and the cuttings had been watered with overhead irrigation. Modified Baermann funnel extraction of symptomatic leaves resulted in the recovery of the foliar nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae (Ritzema Bos, 1891), Christie, 1932 (I). Approximately 1,000 adults and juveniles in 2 ml of aqueous suspension per plant were placed on leaves of uninfected [Minium cvs. White Nancy and Pink Pewter, Begonia hiemalis Fotsch 'Baluga,' and leaves and buds of strawberry (Fragaria ? ananassa Duchesne) cv. Seneca. Leaf symptoms were reproduced after 3 weeks on both Lamium cultivars and begonia but not on strawberry. Inoculated leaves and buds were rinsed and placed on modified Baermann funnels. Aphelenchoides fragariae were recovered from all three plant species. No nematodes were recovered from uninoculated plants. This is the first report of A. fragariae infecting Lamium.