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Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease that affects a wide
array of plants including vegetables, trees, perennials
and shrubs. The fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, is
soil borne and usually enters plants through openings in
the roots. It tends to be very persistent in the soil so
plants that are diagnosed with fusarium wilt or rot need
to be removed and destroyed. Then, they should only be
replaced with plants that are resistant to the disease.
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As the name implies, the key symptom of this disease
is a wilting of foliage and twigs. This usually
occurs starting in late summer when the days are hot
and dry. Because of the disease, the plant is not
able to keep up with the evaporation demands
resulting in wilt. The leaves will turn yellow and
have a scorched appearance around the edges. Plant
growth will be stunted and, eventually, major parts
or all of the plant may die.
As a post-mortem
indication of fusarium wilt, there is often a
discoloration of the vascular tissue in small to
medium sized branches. This stain may be seen in a
cross section of the branch cut. This symptom is
common to most of the various
wilt diseases.
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There are a couple of ways to help prevent the
occurrence of fusarium wilt in the home landscape:
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Resistance - If
fusarium wilt has been a problem with plants in
the landscape, they should be replaced with
species that are resistant. Since the disease is
soil borne, it sticks around from year to year.
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Prevent Root Damage
- There needs to be some sort of opening in the
roots of the plant for the fungus to enter from
the soil. Sometimes this will happen through the
alternate freezing and thawing of the soil which
may damage the roots. At other times, activities
such as nearby construction, using heavy
equipment over the root zone or soil excavation
provide an entry point.
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1. Remove and Discard Infected
Plants
2.
Inspect Bulbs - Inspect your
bulbs, corms,
tubers
and
rhizomes
before planting and destroy those that are
soft and rotted or have a distorted form. Do not put
them in the compost pile.
3.
Chemical Controls - Prevention is the key since
there really are no practical chemical controls for
fusarium wilt in landscape plants. In rare cases, soil
infected with fusarium may be sterilized with harsh
chemicals but this is only done in commercial nurseries.
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Note: We
have provided some general information and
observations on this topic aimed at the home
gardener. Before you take
any serious action in your landscape, check
with your state's land grant university's
Cooperative
Extension
Service for the most current,
appropriate, localized recommendations. |
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Some flowering plants susceptible to fusarium wilt: |
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