What are the control methods for lily anthracnose?

Lily anthracnose harms the leaves, stems, and flowers of the plant, causing premature leaf drop, severely affecting the plant's growth and development, and reducing its ornamental value.

Symptoms: In the early stage of the disease, oval lesions appear on infected leaves, with a pale yellow center, purple-brown or dark brown edges, and a slightly sunken center. Lesions on petals are light brown and become thinner. Infected flower stalks turn black. Infected bulbs generally develop the disease on the outer scales, and sometimes also on the inner scales. In the early stage, light brown, irregular spots appear on the scales, after which the lesions expand and sink, changing from brown to black, and the scales dry-rot and shrink. In the late stage of the disease, small black dots appear on the diseased soil, which are the pathogen's acervuli.

Pathogen: The pathogen is Colletotrichum lilii Plakidas, belonging to Deuteromycotina, Coelomycetes, Melanconiales, genus Colletotrichum.

Disease pattern: The pathogen overwinters on diseased plant debris as mycelium and acervuli. When conditions are suitable the following year, it produces conidia, which spread through wind and rain to infect plants. High temperature and high humidity favor the occurrence of this disease.

Control: ① Reduce sources of infection: When diseased plants are found, promptly prune or pull them out and destroy them in a centralized manner. ② Strengthen cultivation management: Do not overwater the bulbs or allow the bulbs to freeze. If conditions permit, use disease-free soil for planting. For potted plants, use sterilized soil to fill the pots. Strictly select disease-free bulbs; before planting, soak the bulbs in benomyl, which has a certain control effect.