Re: CULT: Leaf Removal & Soft Rot

In a message dated 1/23/2003 3:26:48 PM Central Standard Time, 
phantomfyre@yahoo.com writes:


> Not shur iffin I'm a thinkin' correctly, but I'm a thinkin'. (A
> former Yankee - lernin' my suthern from Mr. Burleson. <G>)
> Diana
> 

You appear to be progressing well in your efforts to assimilate into Southern 
culture. You must now begin speakin' slower and typin' slower. Thinkin' is OK 
but you got to be careful about lettin' people know you do it or you risk 
sullyin' our reputation as bein' slow in the head. Doin' slower is however 
mandatory. <belly laugh>

Superstition's (R.Tasco) ability to grow quality rhizomes that produce superi
or first year bounce precede them in almost all quarters of the iris world. 
The theory behind tearing versus cutting is grounded in assertions that doing 
so leaves more of the individual cell walls in tact, hence allowing the plant 
to make better use of it's natural defenses against penetration by disease 
organisms.

Our conditions are different from Superstitions. I assume they still grow in 
previously fallow plots that have been treated/sterilized, hence have few 
disease organisms in the soil. Both their annual rainfall and variance 
between high and low temperatures vary significantly from ours. I assume that 
UV light penetrations are different but do not know this for fact.

When addressing bacterial soft rot, the unvarnished truth is that no one in 
the iris world has the answers. Few controlled research studies have been 
performed with irises. Too, I know of no one in the South who is growing in 
sterilized soil.

We do know that Erwinia caratovora growth rate is temperature dependent.
We do know that the growth is moisture dependent.
We do know that the growth is pH dependent.
We even know the ranges of some of the above factors.
I have found no information concerning UV effect on growth rates but suspect 
it may be significant from kitchen table stuff, garden stuff, and plant 
tissue culture stuff.

In our zone 7 world, I believe it more important what we do when rather than 
how we do what. To a degree, I believe this position is relevant for all iris 
growing efforts regardless of zone if it is being done in 
non-sterilized/treated plots.

It would seem counter productive to tear leaves from rhizomes when soil 
temperatures and other conditions are ideal for soft rot. Conversely it would 
seem counter productive to cut foliage at a time when rain or dew point 
predictions can be assured of producing ideal conditions conducive to 
bacteria growth.

Tard of typin', tard of thinkin', so the short answer is keep on thinkin' 
cause nobody has the answer.......yet.

Smiles from another who has done been thinkin' some....but real slow.
Bill Burleson 7a/b
Old South Iris Society
Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand 
miles from the cornfield- D. Eisenhower

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