Chrysanthemums, or mums, are hardy favorites
for cooler weather. Their pretty, cheerful flowers brighten up spaces when
others won’t grow. One disease to watch out for with your mums is fusarium wilt. This fungal disease, caused by Fusarium
oxysporum, is transmitted through roots to vascular tissue and can be very
destructive to plants.
Identifying Mums with Fusarium Wilt
It is easy to misidentify fusarium on mum plants as root
rot, but there are some key differences. One sign of either problem is
wilting of leaves, but with fusarium it may occur only on one side or part of
the plant. Also, roots look healthy when fusarium is the issue.
Yellowing or browning of leaves follows wilting. The plant’s
growth will be stunted and it may not produce any flowers. If you cut a stem on
a mum with fusarium wilt, you can see browning in the vascular tissue.
Does Fusarium Kill Mums?
Unfortunately, yes, this fungal infection will kill
chrysanthemum plants if not managed properly. It is important to know and
recognize the signs of the disease. If you catch it early, you should be able
to destroy the diseased plant material and prevent it from spreading to other
plants.
Chrysanthemum Fusarium Control
The most important thing you can do control chrysanthemum
fusarium wilt is to buy plants that are certified disease free. The fusarium
fungus can survive for years in soil, so it can be difficult to eliminate if
you get it in your garden.
If you do see signs of wilt in your mums, destroy the
affected plant material immediately. Clean any tools or pots thoroughly to prevent the spread of the
fungus. Always clean up plant waste from the area where you grow chrysanthemums
to keep fungus from building up in the soil.
Another step you can take if fusarium
has gotten a foothold in your garden is to amend the pH of the soil. A pH between 6.5 and 7.0 will
be unfavorable to the fungus.
Adding fungicide to the soil will also help control it.
Check with your local garden center or extension
office to find out what type of fungicide is best.
Chrysanthemums, or mums, are hardy favorites
for cooler weather. Their pretty, cheerful flowers brighten up spaces when
others won’t grow. One disease to watch out for with your mums is fusarium wilt. This fungal disease, caused by Fusarium
oxysporum, is transmitted through roots to vascular tissue and can be very
destructive to plants.
Identifying Mums with Fusarium Wilt
It is easy to misidentify fusarium on mum plants as root
rot, but there are some key differences. One sign of either problem is
wilting of leaves, but with fusarium it may occur only on one side or part of
the plant. Also, roots look healthy when fusarium is the issue.
Yellowing or browning of leaves follows wilting. The plant’s
growth will be stunted and it may not produce any flowers. If you cut a stem on
a mum with fusarium wilt, you can see browning in the vascular tissue.
Does Fusarium Kill Mums?
Unfortunately, yes, this fungal infection will kill
chrysanthemum plants if not managed properly. It is important to know and
recognize the signs of the disease. If you catch it early, you should be able
to destroy the diseased plant material and prevent it from spreading to other
plants.
Chrysanthemum Fusarium Control
The most important thing you can do control chrysanthemum
fusarium wilt is to buy plants that are certified disease free. The fusarium
fungus can survive for years in soil, so it can be difficult to eliminate if
you get it in your garden.
If you do see signs of wilt in your mums, destroy the
affected plant material immediately. Clean any tools or pots thoroughly to prevent the spread of the
fungus. Always clean up plant waste from the area where you grow chrysanthemums
to keep fungus from building up in the soil.
Another step you can take if fusarium
has gotten a foothold in your garden is to amend the pH of the soil. A pH between 6.5 and 7.0 will
be unfavorable to the fungus.
Adding fungicide to the soil will also help control it.
Check with your local garden center or extension
office to find out what type of fungicide is best.