One again, I am asking for reports of honeysuckle leaf blight. This is a leaf disease that appears to attack most honeysuckles, both native and invasive (except Japanese). Although the pathogen was first described in the 1940s, it was fairly uncommon until recently. I began noticing it in 2012 on the invasive Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), and the University of Kentucky Extension lab did identify it as honeysuckle leaf blight. I also saw it in 2013 and 2014, and in all three years, I receive reports from all over the eastern US. I have started to observe it this year in the Cincinnati area, where we are located.
It generally starts as chlorotic spots between the midvein and the leaf margin, later progressing to necrosis and leaf death. I’ve posted picture of it at http://www.nku.edu/~boycer/Honeysuckle_Leaf_Blight_Symptoms.html. I’ve also measured a large increase in stem mortality. Some preliminary results are reported in Boyce et al. (2014) Biological Invasions 16:2017-2023. I’ll be reporting some additional results at this year’s ESA meeting (pardon the self-aggrandizement). While there is no direct link between the leaf blight and mortality, the circumstantial evidence is strong. So again, if you see leaf blight, please report it to me, along with the location and the species you observed it on. Thanks, Rick ================================ Richard L. Boyce, Ph.D. Director, Environmental Science Program Professor Department of Biological Sciences, SC 150 Northern Kentucky University Nunn Drive Highland Heights, KY 41099 USA 859-572-1407 (tel.) 859-572-5639 (fax) boy...@nku.edu<mailto:boy...@nku.edu> http://www.nku.edu/~boycer/ ================================= "One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries." - A.A. Milne
