Causes of Heart Rot in Celery and Detailed Control Methods
Celery heart rot is a relatively serious disease. It causes the core of the celery to become mushy and rot, making it unfit for normal consumption. It can occur at any stage of celery growth, and is extremely severe when the seedlings are affected. In mild cases it reduces yield, and in severe cases it causes total crop loss, bringing huge economic losses to farmers. So what causes celery heart rot? How should it be controlled? Let's find out together on Qinnong Web.
1. Heart rot from calcium deficiency
When celery lacks the calcium element, it is highly prone to heart rot disease, which leads to heart rot. This is also the main cause of celery heart rot. In the early stage of calcium deficiency, the growing point of the celery begins to turn brown, and as time goes on it gradually turns black until it dies. As the disease develops, the damage gradually extends downward, invading the base of the stem, so that when the growing point is cut open, the interior is found to be hollow, rotten and smelling sour.
Control measures: Add an appropriate amount of calcium fertilizer to the base fertilizer before planting. In addition, spraying foliar fertilizer can also prevent it. Once heart rot caused by this appears, deal with it promptly, treat the specific cause, and use agents for treating heart rot disease for control.
2. Heart rot from boron deficiency
Boron deficiency can also cause heart rot. When the boron element in the soil is too low, or the plants cannot absorb boron, and since celery is extremely sensitive to boron, when boron is deficient the plant grows deformed, the leaf veins begin to lose their green color, the heart leaves become brown and scorched-looking, the stems develop cracks, and after a long time heart rot appears.
Control methods: Likewise add an appropriate amount of boron fertilizer to the base fertilizer, or spray foliar fertilizer later on, using borax mixed with water to make a 0.1% solution, spraying once a week for 3-4 consecutive times.
3. Black rot
Black rot is a fungal disease. The fungus often lurks in the soil and invades and infects celery from the base of the stem, causing heart rot. In the early stage of the disease, grayish-brown lesions begin to appear on the infected parts. As the disease develops, the lesions keep expanding and the color also turns dark green or dark brown. When the disease occurs, it is not easy to notice from the outside, until the tissue under the skin ruptures and exposes the infected, rotten tissue. The pathogen can spread through rain and soil.
Control methods: Do a good job of soil disinfection to eliminate the pathogen. During the rainy season, pay attention to rain protection measures, do a good job of drainage and waterlogging prevention, and cut off the transmission routes. When diseased plants are found, spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 700-800 times dilution or 50% iprodione at 600 times dilution for control.
4. Soft rot
Soft rot is a bacterial disease. Plants grown in dark, damp environments are prone to infection, and it also spreads through water. The first site of disease is the stem or the base of the stem, spreading upward to the heart leaf area. It is often confused with nutrient deficiency symptoms, but soft rot is characterized by being soft when pressed and accompanied by a foul odor, so it is still fairly easy to identify.
Control methods: Likewise do a good job of disinfecting seeds, soil and water to prevent bacteria from being carried through these routes and causing infection. When the disease occurs, spray 27% copper hydroxide suspension concentrate at 600 times dilution or 77% copper hydroxide wettable microgranule powder at 500 times dilution for control.
The above are the causes of celery heart rot and control methods brought to you by Qinnong Web. We hope they can help you. To learn more about celery cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinnong Web.