Diseases of medicinal plants in Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University in spring seasons

In 2006–2012 at spring seasons the state of plants of 350 species were assessed. Fungi of 10 species and 8 genera, grown in Kaunas Botanical Garden, causing medicinal plant fungal diseases occurring in spring were detected. Some fungal diseases are also noticed in early spring just after snowmelt. That is leave spot which occur at previous year and remain on over-wintered leaves. Such diseases are noticed annually on Oenothera biennis, Primula veris, Hedera helix and Bergenia crassifolia, disease agents are fungi belonging to Boeremia, Septoria, Ramularia, Cercospora genera. Hepatica nobilis leave spot, agent Septoria hepaticae, occurs before the ending of Hepatica blossom and also after the blossom, on the majority of leaves appear medium-sized irregular spots. Following group of diseases observed in spring is leave rust. Alium genus plants may be host plants for several genus of rust. A. ursinum is one of the host plants for ransons rust (Puccinia sessilis). Aecia (the first stage of fungus development) has a bright orange color, about 1-2 cm in diameter, is on the under side of the leaf of ransons. Later fungus development stages (uredium and telium) continue proceeding on Tyhoides arundinacea (L.) Moench. Puccinia sessilis can injure other medicinal plants (Convalaria majalis L.) and Paris quadrifolia L.), still rust on these plants was not found in Kaunas Botanical Garden. Allium giganteum is injured by Melampsora genera rust. Fungus Puccinia violae effects many species of viola. The fungus passes all stages of development on a single host plant – pansy viola. In spring on the under side of a leaf forms aecia concentrations, in such places leaf blade is slightly deformed (depressed), injured leaves look blistered. Since 2010 on young leaves of Sanguisorba minor aecia are observed. The part of young leaves and stalks are covered with bright orange color aecia, which drop out spores easily. [...]Botanikos sodasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta