Verticillium Wilt of Mint in the United States of America

Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, is the most important and destructive disease of mint (Mentha spp.) in the United States (U.S.). The disease was first observed in commercial mint fields in the Midwestern U.S. in the 1920s and, by the 1950s, was present in mint producing regions of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Verticillium wilt continues to be a major limiting factor in commercial peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and Scotch spearmint (Mentha x gracilis) production, two of the most important sources of mint oil in the U.S. The perennial aspect of U.S. mint production, coupled with the soilborne, polyetic nature of V. dahliae, makes controlling Verticillium wilt in mint a challenge. Studies investigating the biology and genetics of the fungus, the molecular mechanisms of virulence and resistance, and the role of soil microbiota in modulating host-pathogen interactions are needed to improve our understanding of Verticillium wilt epidemiology and inform novel disease management strategies. This review will discuss the history and importance of Verticillium wilt in commercial U.S. mint production, as well as provide a format to highlight past and recent research advances in an effort to better understand and manage the disease.