Cadmium was recognised as one of the major environmental and public health risk problem. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of cadmium on growth and morphology of phylloplane fungi. Discs of fungal cultures were placed on Cd amended PDA medium. Alternaria alternata, Septaria tritici, Epicoccum purpurascens, Fusarium avenaceum, Bipolaris sorokiniana were tested. Mycelial growth, morphology and sporulation were studied. All tested species differed in cadmium response. Retardation of radial growth of myceli um was observed. Changes of pigmentation, and inhibition or loss of sporulation was noted. The most sensitive to cadmium was S. tritici.

Changes in production methods of Ericaceae ornamental plants could have caused them to become more vulnerable to weak pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the casual agent of Ericaceous plant damage. Plants and peat substrate were collected from two nurseries near Poznań. After isolation on agar medium and fulfilling Koch postulates it was found that the casual agent of Ericaceae ornamenta lp lant damage was Pestalotiopsis sydowiana (Bresadole) B.C. Sutton, a new species noted in Poland.