Root rot reported in Burnett peanuts

The DAF pathology team has recently received peanut samples with Neocosmospora root rot from crops growing in the Burnett region.

Neocosmospora root rot is a sporadic but potentially severe disease caused by the fungus Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. africana. Outbreaks have occurred previously in the Burnett region in 2005, and also in the Emerald region in 2008 and 2011.

Keep an eye out for yellowing, wilted plants with root rot. Orange perithecia (fungal fruiting bodies) may also be seen on the decayed roots of infected plants.

Wilted, dying plant infected with Neocosmospora root rot in the Burnett region

Orange perithecia growing on infected root tissue in the laboratory. Perithecia may be found on rotted peanut roots in the field

Neocosmospora rot can be spread in contaminated soil by vehicles, machinery and overland water flows.

If you see symptoms in peanut crops, please contact plant pathologist Lisa Kelly ([email protected], 0477 747 040) for further information on disease diagnosis.

Further information on Neocosmospora root rot in peanuts can be found at:

• Fuhlbohm, MF, Tatnell, JR and Ryley, MJ. (2007). Neocosmospora vasinfecta is pathogenic on peanut in Queensland. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 2, 3–4 (available as a pdf)
• Wenham, Kylie (2018). Investigation into the emerging soil borne disease of peanut – Neocosmospora root rot. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. https://doi.org/10.14264/uql.2019.49