Seedborne fungi in Norway spruce: Testing methods and pathogen control by seed dressing

Italian seed lots of Norway spruce (Picea abies) were analysed by agar plate tests and seedling symptom test. Fusarium spp., Phoma spp. and Sirococcus conigenus were present on seeds, together with some saprophytes, but only S. conigenus and Fusarium spp. caused mortality in the seeding symptom test. Pathogenicity tests with 19 isolates belonging to nine Fusarium species showed that only some were pathogenic. Fusarium dlamini, reported for the first time in Italy, caused only some pre-emergence mortality. Pathogenicity rests with S. conigenus indicated that the isolate was pathogenic and that temperature can greatly affect the results. Seed dressing with prochloraz was suitable for controlling the seedborne pathogens. Agar plate tests are effective and practicable methods for the detection of spruce seed mycoflora.