Mycocentrospora acerina
anthracnose of caraway, licorice rot
Centrospora acerina, Cercospora acerina, Cercospora cari
Asia: China, Japan; Europe: Bulgaria, France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, UK; North America: USA; South America: Chile.
WA
2025-10-27
fungus
Brazil, China
Main: celery, carrot, lettuce, caraway; Other: peony
MYCCAC
Mycocentrospora acerina is a soil-borne fungal pathogen that produces dark, septate conidia and survives in soil or on plant debris. It infects plants through wounds under cool, wet conditions. While primarily soil-borne, seed transmission has been proven in pansy and caraway, making infected seeds a potential source of inoculum.
6 Known Hosts
Apium graveolens
celery
No
CABI CPC, MYCCAC-11
No references found indicating celery seed as a pathway.
2025-10-27 11:53:44
Carum carvi
caraway
Yes
MYCCAC-2, MYCCAC-3, MYCCAC-4, MYCCAC-8, MYCCAC-9, MYCCAC-11
Mycocentrospora acerina is a soil-borne fungal pathogen of caraway that causes anthracnose-like symptoms. While primarily transmitted via soil, the fungus can also persist on seeds, allowing seedlings to be infected at emergence and potentially introducing the pathogen into new fields.
Yes
Direct microscopic evaluation and plating
MYCCAC-2
2025-10-27 12:03:53
Evenhuis, A., Verdam B. 1995 Studies on major diseases of caraway (Carum carvi) in the Netherlands. Industrial Crops and Products, June 1995, 4, 1, pp 53-61
Hermansen, A. 1992. Weeds as hosts of Mycocentrospora acerina. Annals of Applied Biology 121:679-686
Davis RM, Raid RN, 2002. Compendium of Umbelliferous Crop Diseases. American Phytopathological Society.
Chase, AR and Daughtrey, ML. 2018. Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests. Eds. A. R. Chase, M. L. Daughtrey and R. A. Cloyd. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. USA
Yang, K., Wang, H. L., Ye, C., Wang, Z. H., Ye, K. H., Zhang, S., ... & He, X. H. (2022). Infection characteristics and physical prevention strategy of Panax notoginseng round spot disease caused by Mycocentrospora acerina. Plant Disease, 106(10), 2607-2617.
Wall, C. J., & Lewis, B. G. (1980). Survival of chlamydospores and subsequent development of Mycocentrospora acerina in soil. Transactions of the British Mycological Society, 75(2), 207-211.
Daucus carota
carrot
No
MYCCAC-3, CABI CPC, MYCCAC-8
No references found indicating that carrot seed is a pathway.
2025-10-27 12:05:52
Hermansen, A. 1992. Weeds as hosts of Mycocentrospora acerina. Annals of Applied Biology 121:679-686
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Chase, AR and Daughtrey, ML. 2018. Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests. Eds. A. R. Chase, M. L. Daughtrey and R. A. Cloyd. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. USA
Impatiens
impatiens
No
MYCCAC-3, CABI CPC, MYCCAC-8
No references found indicating impatiens seed is a pathway.
2025-10-27 12:07:03
Hermansen, A. 1992. Weeds as hosts of Mycocentrospora acerina. Annals of Applied Biology 121:679-686
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Chase, AR and Daughtrey, ML. 2018. Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests. Eds. A. R. Chase, M. L. Daughtrey and R. A. Cloyd. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. USA
Lactuca sativa
lettuce
No
MYCCAC-3, MYCCAC-8
No references found indicating lettuce seed is a pathway.
2025-10-27 12:07:30
Hermansen, A. 1992. Weeds as hosts of Mycocentrospora acerina. Annals of Applied Biology 121:679-686
Chase, AR and Daughtrey, ML. 2018. Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests. Eds. A. R. Chase, M. L. Daughtrey and R. A. Cloyd. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. USA
Viola spp.
viola, pansy
Yes
MYCCAC-3, MYCCAC-4, MYCCAC-6, CABI CPC, MYCCAC-8, MYCCAC-9
Seed pathway is uncommon, but possible
No
Mycocentrospora acerina causes leaf spots and crown rot in pansy. It is primarily soil-borne, surviving in soil or plant debris, but can also be transmitted via infected seeds, which produce colonized seedlings.
Seed production in dry climates and without overhead irrigation and from reliable producers essentially eliminates this seed borne pathogen.
MYCCAC-8
2025-10-27 12:09:50
Hermansen, A. 1992. Weeds as hosts of Mycocentrospora acerina. Annals of Applied Biology 121:679-686
Davis RM, Raid RN, 2002. Compendium of Umbelliferous Crop Diseases. American Phytopathological Society.
Gill,D.L., 1971. Centrospora acerina carried by Pansyseed.Plant Disease Reporter 55:731-732.
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Chase, AR and Daughtrey, ML. 2018. Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests. Eds. A. R. Chase, M. L. Daughtrey and R. A. Cloyd. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. USA
Yang, K., Wang, H. L., Ye, C., Wang, Z. H., Ye, K. H., Zhang, S., ... & He, X. H. (2022). Infection characteristics and physical prevention strategy of Panax notoginseng round spot disease caused by Mycocentrospora acerina. Plant Disease, 106(10), 2607-2617.
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