Pythium splendens. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Pythium splendens. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: A root parasite or pseudomycorrhizal, on a variety of plants including: Aplaonema simplex, Aloe sp., Ananas comosus, Anthurium scherzerianum, Begonia spp., Cajanus cajan, Canavalia ensiformis, Capsicum sp., Carica papaya, Chrysanthemum sp., Citrus aurantium, Coleus sp., Cucumis sativus, Cymbidium sp., Dieffenbachia picta, Elaeis guineensis, Geranium sp., Helianthus annuus, Hordeum vulgare, Ipomoea batatas, Lactuca sativa, Lilium longiflorum var. eximium, Linum usitatissimum, Manihot utilissima, Medicago saliva, Melilotus sp., Nephytis afzelii, Nicotiana tabacum, Pelargonium spp., Peperomia caperata, Phaseolus aureus, P. vulgaris, Philodendron cordatum, Pinus elliottii, Piper betle, P. methysticum, P. nigrum, Pisum sativum, Pyrus communis, Raphanus sativus, Rheum rhaponticum, Saccharum officinarum, Scindapsus aureus, Spinacia oleracea, Tithonia rotundifolia, Trifolium spp., Triticum aestivum, Vicia faba, Vigna sinesis, Zea mays. Also on the fern Platycerium grande and in nursery soil. DISEASES: Causing seed rot, pre-emergence blight and post-emergence damping-off of seedings of a large number of plants including black pepper, maize, lucerne and sweet clover; mottle necrosis of sweet potato, black stem rot of pelargonium, wilt of Betel pepper, crown rot of rhubarb; and root rot of aloe, oil palm seedlings ('blast'), Easter lily, pineapple, maize, papaw, slash pine and aroids. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: In warm temperate and sub-tropical areas: Africa (Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania), Asia (Indo China, Malaysia, Sabah, Singapore) Australasia & Oceania (Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, New Caledonia); Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal); North America (U.S.A.); Central America and West Indies (Jamaica). TRANSMISSION: Soil-borne but may be spread by leaf contact (18: 113). Also widely disseminated on infected bulbs and cuttings (26: 147). Excessive soil moisture favours infection (21: 526; 32: 510). Injuries caused by nematodes (32: 510) or frost (11: 330) have also predisposed hosts to infection.