Re: [Aroid-l] Help - Amorph disease

Dear Susan,
 
I can understand your problem, becouse one year I lost all of my Zantedeschias.
 
But I also would like to correct you. Erwinia carotovora is in all natural soils which were not disinfected by heat.
 
This bacteria attacks the tubers when the soil is soggy and anaerob (= without air). The second thing is what I saw is this bacteris usally attacks the tissues at the top of the tuber, where the leafs attach. And for the leaves it is going upward.
 
I also contacted with a dutch Zantedeschia breeder, who told me that Z. aethiopica is resistant to this kind of rot, because it grows in marshes. So you may try these varieties, becous you may have better luck. I was able to rot hese tubers too, but before rotting they became infected with a fungus, perhaps Pythium. This fungus loves wet conditions, the sympthomes are smelly rot and melting as Erwinia, but you can kill this with strobilurines as azoxistrobin (Amistar, Quadris).
 
Bye,
 
Jani
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan B
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 4:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Help - Serious spreading Amorph disease


Hi Adam,
I lost my entire crop of konjacs to this about 5 years
ago.  It affected the konjacs while other Amorphs
right next to them had no problems!
I've also lost a significant amount of Zantedeschia to
soft rot/Erwinia 2 years ago. The plants looked just
fine, until suddenly they toppled over at the base.
The petioles looked like they melted.  I've also seen
it affect cut flowers- the plant looked fine, the
flower was picked and put into water in a vase.  The
next day the petiole would have literally dissolved
all the way up to the spathe, which would look OK for
a little while and then it too would start to "melt".

My soft rot/Erwinia, which, by the way, I understand
is two different diseases but work together; seemed
different from your plant's symptoms. 
First, the rot would progress up the petiole or down
to the tuber.  I could pull the bloom and leaves right
out of the ground with no effort.  Second, it has a
very awful, rotten, stinky smell.  The tubers would
also be affected, with large sections rotting off.

Erwinia is a bacterial disease (if I remember
correctly), it is very contagious and can be carried
on feet from one site to another.  Phyton 20, a copper
based formula, is said to prevent it, but bulbs must
be sprayed before planting.  I believe if it affects
an area you are not supposed to use that soil again
because it is infected.

I did rescue a few of my tubers that weren't too badly
affected, I used a water hose to vigorously spray them
until all the mush washed away.  Then I dried the
tubers in the sun/ air as much as possible.  Some of
them were viable the next year, I only had about 3
plants with it last year as opposed to maybe a hundred
the year before.

Truly a heartbreaking disease.  I wish you luck with
it.  Since your tubers seem to be OK, you may have
some other disease or pest going on....

Susan B


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