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A fungus with the cultural characteristics of Sclerotinia laxa Aderh. & Ruhl. has been determined as a cause of blossom and twig blight and fruit rot of stone fruits in southern Victoria. This is the first report of a brown rot species other than S. fructicola (Wint.) Rehm. occurring in Australia. European plum (Prunus domestica) is the host most severely affected, and there is evidence that the disease has spread from this host to adjacent cherry, peach, and apricot varieties. The distribution of S. laxa appears to be restricted to the Wandin, Tyabb, and Red Hill districts of southern Victoria. S. fructicola also is a cause of blossom blight and fruit rot in these districts, and is the only brown rot fungus which causes losses of stone fruits in the major canning fruit districts of northern Victoria. |
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