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Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Diseases of Native Plants

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Diseases of Native Plants

PIERC Project Leader: Donald Gardner , Ph.D.

Dodonaea viscosa Objectives:
Star  Identify unknown or little understood diseases affecting plants in native systems of Hawai‘i
Star  Determine origins of diseases
Star  Gain understanding of disease


Accomplishments:
Star  The complex of endemic rust fungi on koa is native
Star  The prominent “red leaf” disease of native ‘ohelo, is caused by a fungus, probably non-native
Star  “Dodonaea yellows” is caused by a mycoplasma of currently unknown origin


Significance:
Star  Diseases of Hawai‘i’s economic crops are well known, but diseases of native systems are not
Star  Native diseases of native plants are part of the ecosystem that managers must understand
Star  Nonnative diseases can be disruptive



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Page Last Modified: Friday, Dec 1, 2006