Fungal Pathogen Inoculation of Buxus, Pachysandra, and Sarcococca

Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’), pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), and sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) were used. For inoculation, unblemished leaves of similar size and age were collected from healthy specimens of each of these host plants and used after surface sterilization with 10% Clorox^® Performance Bleach with CLOROMAX^®—Concentrated Formula (Clorox Co., Oakland, CA, USA) for 1 min, rinsing five times with distilled water (dH₂O) and then blot-drying with paper towels. The clean, detached leaves, with the abaxial surface facing up, were placed in rows onto polypropylene plastic mesh (Industrialnetting.com, Minneapolis, MN, USA) over wet paper towels in a clear plastic container (31 × 23 × 10 cm, Pioneer Plastics Inc., Eagan, MN, USA) and at this point were ready for inoculation.