What to Do When Asparagus Fern Gets Branch Blight? Detailed Control Methods
[Symptoms] It first appears on weak-growing small branches. The lesions are initially thread-like or spindle-shaped, gradually spreading to the upper branches, causing leaf drop. Infected branches gradually turn light brown, and finally pale yellow. In humid conditions, dense small black dots form on the infected branches.
[Pathogen and disease pattern] It is a fungal disease. The pathogen is a fungus of the genus Phoma, which mostly overwinters on diseased plants and diseased debris, and spreads with wind and rain the following year, causing infection and damage. When plant vigor is weak, the disease is prone to occur.
[Control Methods]
1. Plant in an environment with good air circulation and good drainage; appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; do not expose to strong sunlight or grow in overly shady conditions.
2. When diseased branches are found, prune them off promptly.
3. Chemical control: In the early stage of the disease, spray 1% Bordeaux mixture for protection, or spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or spray potassium permanganate at 1500 times dilution.
Control Methods for Asparagus Fern Branch Blight
Branch blight harms the branches of asparagus fern, causing small branches (which are commonly regarded as the leaves of asparagus fern) to drop, and in severe cases the entire plant withers and dies. The pathogen of branch blight is a fungus of the order Sphaeropsidales, class Coelomycetes. The pathogen infects when plant vigor declines, often invading from the upper part of weak-growing small branches; the lesions are initially spindle-shaped or thread-like, then gradually expand and spread upward and downward, or encircle the stem so that the upper branches of the plant dry up and small branches drop. After a certain period, infected small branches gradually fade to light brown, then to yellowish white, with dense small black dots on the surface; these small black dots on the diseased parts of the dead branches are the pycnidia of the pathogen. The pycnidia are born under the epidermis, flat spherical or spherical, dark brown; the conidia are colorless, single-celled, nearly oval. The pathogen overwinters as pycnidia attached to the affected parts, and produces conidia the following year when conditions are suitable, spreading and causing damage. In Guangdong, this disease generally occurs from July to November, during hot and relatively dry weather. Poor cultivation management, strong direct sunlight or excessive shade, and weak plant vigor are the triggers for the disease.
Control of Asparagus Fern Branch Blight
1. Eliminate the source of infection. Once asparagus fern branches are found to be infected by the pathogen, promptly prune off the affected dead branches, then burn them in a centralized manner. To prevent the cut from being infected by the pathogen, disinfect the cut with alcohol and then apply petroleum jelly.
2. Improve cultivation conditions. Control lighting conditions; potted asparagus fern should be placed in a ventilated, sunny spot that is not exposed to strong direct sunlight; strengthen fertilizer and water management to make the plant grow robustly and improve disease resistance.
3. Chemical control. In the early stage of the disease, spray 1% Bordeaux mixture, or 75% chlorothalonil at 800 times dilution, or potassium permanganate at 1500 times dilution, which have good preventive and sterilizing effects.
Control of Asparagus Fern Branch Blight
Asparagus fern branch blight Initially, the disease starts on weak-growing small branches. The lesions are initially thread-like or spindle-shaped, then gradually spread to the upper branches, and the leaves begin to drop. After a period of time, the infected branches. Turn light brown, and finally pale yellow, and when humid, dense small black dots appear on them. The pathogen is a fungus of the order Sphaeropsidales, Phoma sp. The pathogen overwinters as pycnidia on diseased plants and diseased debris. The following year when conditions are suitable, it produces conidia that infect and cause damage. When plant growth is weak, the pathogen first infects the parts with poor vigor. This disease often occurs from July to November. Control methods: 1. Choose a sandy loam environment with good air circulation and good drainage to grow asparagus fern. When growing asparagus fern at home, do not place the pot in a place with strong direct light or excessive shade. When diseased branches are found, they should be pruned off immediately. 2. In the early stage of the disease, spray 1% Bordeaux mixture. During the disease period, after pruning off diseased branches, spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or potassium permanganate at 1500 times dilution.