Longhorn Beetles andBotryosphaeria: A Future Epidemic?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This note continues the “Cannabis Clinic” series, presenting diseases and pests of hemp, featuring colour illustrations of signs and symptoms. The hemp longhorn beetle (Thyestilla gebleri) damages hemp stalks in eastern Asia. The fungus Botryosphaeria marconii causes stalk and twig blight disease of hemp in North America and perhaps western Europe. The life cycles of the beetle and fungus overlap on host plants; if their geographic ranges also overlapped they would likely cause synergistic damage-an epidemic waiting to happen?