Cause and Impacts of the Early Season Collapse of Lilium grayi (Gray’s lily), on Roan Mountain, TN/NC

<p>A population of the rare Southern Appalachian endemic species <em>Lilium grayi</em>, (Gray’s lily) Roan Mountain, TN/NC was monitored for 2 years to determine the cause and impact of an early season collapse. High concentrations of the <em>Lilium</em> spp. host-specific fungal phytopathogen, <em>Pseudocercosporella inconspicua</em> (G. Winter) U. Braun were associated with 19/20 symptomatic and 0/30 asymptomatic plants. Strength of the association between pathogen and disease and the replication of disease symptoms in 4/4 healthy hosts showed that <em>P. inconspicua</em> was the causal agent of the disease referred to as lily leaf spot. Disease had a severe impact on the population with 59% of mature and 98% of adolescent plants undergoing early senescence. Only 32% of mature plants produced capsules and they were frequently diseased. A recurring spatiotemporal pattern typical of an infectious disease suggested that the lily leaf spot disease is capable of causing sequential annual epidemics of unknown long-term consequences to the stability of the host population.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS (Master of Science)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Ingram, Russell J

• Pseudocercosporella inconspicua
• Lilium grayi
• epidemiology
• natural populations
• disease association
• lily leaf spot
• Botany
• Plant Pathology
• Population Biology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1190

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2376