How To Recognize Aster Diseases?

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Beautiful asters from year to year delight us with their amazing colors. However, these flowers can also be affected by a wide variety of diseases. Viral ailments are especially dangerous for asters, because about twenty-four different viruses can infect them! However, fungal diseases are no less harmful. In order to identify a particular nuisance in a timely manner and make every effort to get rid of it as soon as possible, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in more detail with the information on how the manifestations of various diseases look on these magnificent flowers

Jaundice

The aster leaves attacked by this ailment first brighten in the direction of the veins, and some time later chlorosis covers them completely. Infected flowers are characterized by increased growth of bushes and significant growth retardation. And the buds of asters turn green and stop developing altogether. This attack is caused by a destructive virus, which is carried by leafhoppers and aphids.

Rust

Approximately in June or July, characteristic swelling-pustules, abundantly filled with harmful fungal spores, begin to form near the bases of aster leaves. As the misfortune develops, the leaves dry out and wither over time.

With the onset of autumn, numerous flat orange pads, filled with brownish spores and densely covered with epidermis, begin to appear on the leaves. And in the spring, these spores begin to sprout, covering an increasing number of beautiful flowers.

Blackleg

At the very beginning of the development of this mushroom disease on the seedlings of asters, the seedlings first turn black, and subsequently rot of the bases and roots of the necks begins to develop. The stalks of plants gradually become thinner, as a result of which the seedlings bend strongly and die quickly. The fungus-causative agent of the ill-fated misfortune overwinters in the soil and spreads perfectly in areas with acidic soils.

Septoriasis

This infection is also known as brown leaf blight. During the budding period, light brownish specks of the most diverse shapes appear on the lowest leaves of asters. After a while, they grow strongly, as a result of which the infection covers almost all the leaves on each bush. And as soon as the asters begin to bloom, the foliage on them dries out completely.

Brown spotting is especially common on aster leaves in years characterized by humid and warm summers. And the most susceptible to the ill-fated ailment are densely planted, unkempt and noticeably weakened flowers. Often, asters overfed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers also fall ill.

Fusarium

Perhaps this is the most dangerous disease. At the same time, young asters are rarely affected by fusarium. The leaves, seized by the infection, first turn yellow, and a little later turn brown, after which they quickly curl and wither. On the affected stems, brownish oblong specks are formed, and dark longitudinal stripes can be seen on the root collars and slightly above them. Stem tissues in the affected areas often rupture, forming gaping and extremely unsightly cracks. As a result, wonderful flowers begin to look depressed, stop growing and slowly fade. In addition, pathogenic plaque of mycelium or fungal sporulation that looks like pinkish pads can often be seen in the lower parts of the stems of infected plants.

One of the most characteristic signs of the manifestation of this destructive ailment is the asymmetry of the lesion - as a rule, wilting of leaves and the appearance of dark stripes on the stems can be observed only on one side of each flower bush. Thanks to this feature, Fusarium simply cannot be confused with any other ailment.