Cylindrocladium

Cylindrocladium is a genus of fungi in the family Nectriaceae, order Hypocreales. Species are filamentous ascomycetes that produce dark, slimy conidia on simple, erect conidiophores. The genus was established by Swingle in 1916 and includes several plant‑pathogenic taxa, most notably Cylindrocladium scoparium, C. buxicola, and C. carpinicola. These fungi are characterized by cylindrical conidia that are typically 3–5 µm in width and up to 80 µm in length, and by their ability to form microsclerotia in soil or infected tissue.

Cylindrocladium species are distributed worldwide, especially in temperate and tropical regions, where they inhabit the rhizosphere of a variety of host plants. They cause root and stem rots, leaf spots, and cankers, often entering through wounds or natural openings. Economically important hosts include strawberry, blueberry, rhododendron, and various ornamental shrubs. Infection is favored by moist, warm conditions, and the fungi can survive as dormant structures in the soil for several years, making management difficult.

Control measures rely on integrated strategies: cultural practices such as crop rotation, proper sanitation, and improved drainage; chemical controls using fungicides registered for soil‑borne pathogens; and biological agents like Trichoderma spp. that antagonize Cylindrocladium. Molecular techniques, including PCR‑based diagnostics, have improved detection and species identification, aiding quarantine and research efforts.

Taxonomically, several Cylindrocladium species have been reassigned to the genus Neonectria or to the teleomorph genus Nectria after phylogenetic analyses. Nevertheless, the name Cylindrocladium remains widely used in plant pathology literature to refer to the asexual states that cause disease. Ongoing research focuses on pathogenicity mechanisms, host resistance, and the development of more sustainable control options.