Abstract
Most members of the laurel family (Lauraceae) indigenous to the United States appear to be highly susceptible to laurel wilt, a disease caused by Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Aghayeva & Fraedrich, a fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff) (Fraedrich et al. 2008; Harrington et al. 2008). The beetle and fungus were introduced into the United States from Asia around 2002, and the disease has caused widespread mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia) throughout the southeastern United States.
Citation
Fraedrich, S. W.; Harrington, T. C.; McDaniel, B. A.; Best, G. S. 2016. First report of laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola , on spicebush ( Lindera benzoin ) in South Carolina . Plant Disease. 100(11): 2330-2331. 2 p. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-16-0674-PDN.