Fungus gnats vector <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f.sp. <i>radicislycopersici</i>1

Abstract

SUMMARY Fungus gnat adults transported Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis‐lycopersici from Petri dish culture and infected host plants to the roots and hypocotyls of healthy tomato and bean plants. The source of the fungus did not affect the ability of fungus gnats to transport the fungus to healthy hosts. The presence of fungus gnat larvae in media in which young tomato plants were grown did not increase the incidence of plant infection by the pathogen. Fungus gnat adults appear to aid in the dissemination of F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis‐lycopersici.