Stem fasciation in Lilium henryi caused by nematodes

The spontaneous appearance of fasciation in flower stalks and stems of clones of Lilium henryi is not genetically determined. Fasciated plants have been shown to be free of bacterial and virus infections, and phytohormones and wounding as causal agents of fasciations can be excluded. All fasciated plants had an increased population of nematodes in the soil layers surrounding the bulbs. The nematodes were identified as being predominantly from the Rotylenchus and Ditylenchus species, as well as some others. The injection of a total extract of Ditylenchus dipsaci induced fasciation in 56% of the treated plants.