Identification, biological characteristics, and screening of control agents against root rot of Ardisia crenata Sims in China

<i>Ardisia crenata</i> Sims is included in the <i>Chinese Pharmacopoeia</i> and is a valuable traditional medicinal plant. <i>A. crenata</i> Sims root rot was first detected in 2023 in Kaizhou District, Chongqing City, China. This study was undertaken to elucidate the causal pathogen of <i>A. crenata</i> Sims root rot and the biological characteristics of the pathogen and to screen effective pesticides for its management. A pathogenic fungus was isolated and purified from typical lesions on <i>A. crenata</i> Sims, and it was identified using morphological and multi-gene combined analysis. The biological characteristics of the pathogen were investigated using the cross-inoculation method and spore counting technique, while the sensitivity of the pathogen to six chemical pesticides and six biological pesticides was evaluated using the growth rate method. The combination of morphological characteristics and polygenic association identified the pathogenic fungus as <i>Fusarium cugenangense,</i> a member of the <i>F. oxysporum</i> species complex. This is the first report of <i>F. cugenangense</i> causing root rot disease in <i>A. crenata</i> Sims. Among the six tested chemical pesticides, the 500 g/L fluazinam suspension concentrate (SC) showed the best inhibitory effect, with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) value of 0.129 μg/mL. Among the six tested biological pesticides, 3% zhongshengmycin soluble liquid (SL) showed the best inhibitory effect, with an EC₅₀ value of 14.474 μg/mL. The conclusion is expected to lay a scientific basis for the diagnosis and control of <i>A. crenata</i> Sims root rot caused by <i>F. cugenangense</i>.