Diseases of linseed in the United Kingdom

The recent large increase in the growing of linseed in the United Kingdom has led to worries about potential disease problems. This review summarises information on the distribution, disease status, symptoms and life cycle and control measures for the most frequently encountered pathogens, including Alternaria linicola, Fusarium spp., Botrytis cinerea and Oidium lini. It also provides some brief comments on less frequent but potentially damaging pathogens, such as Verticillium spp., Phoma exigua and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.