Verticillium wilt threatens coastal cauliflower crop

Abstract

For the first time, cauliflower has been found to he a host of the destructive soil-home pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Incidence of this disease is spreading throughout cauliflower-growing regions in coastal California, resulting in crop yield and quality losses. All of the tested cauliflower cultivars, both commercially available and experimental selections, were susceptible to the disease. Initial tests indicate that non-tarped fumigants are not effective against this disease.