Bacteria cause only a few diseases in plants. One of
these, bacterial soft rot, has occasionally been
found in hostas in the landscape or in plant
nurseries. Generally, some type of wound is needed
for the bacteria to enter so this disease may show
up after an unusually cold winter involving more
than average heaving and thawing in
clay soils.
Excessively cold temperatures used in some nurseries
to simulate cold dormancy may also encourage this
disease.
As the name implies, the disease
causes a watery, mushy rot of the underground crown.
Like a similar rot that occurs in
Iris, tissue
infect with this disease emit a characteristic odor
resembling dead fish.
IF bacterial soft rot is
diagnosed by a university or other plant diagnostic
laboratory, infected plants need to be destroyed.
Also, if tools such as knives or pruners are used,
they should be disinfected with a 10% bleach
solution before being used on other plants.
