Re:more rot, weeds, pathogens, molligrubs


Ellen - you may not be the only one wondering so i decided to answer on the
list - ellen asks:<<I know what grubs are - what is a molligrub?>>

we started calling the unknown cause of iris just wasting away with no
obvious sign of rot the molligrubs.  from comments on this list, it may be
more of a southern problem, and may be the disease more formally known as
scorch.  sounds like a rock group - the disease formerly known as scorch.

Louise said <<One of the interesting aspects was the possibility of using
"test" plants exposed to roundup as indicators of rot pathogens in soils. I
had always understood that these were quite universal in areas where they
naturally thrive, but maybe not.>>

as i understand it, their are critters (such as some species of nematodes)
that eat fungi and bacteria, so even though the organisms may be universal,
they may be less abundant where predators are abundant.  

 <<Weed control seems to dimish conditions which create rot, talk
about "confounding factors"! >>

amen.  several region 7 growers told me they had observed less rot in beds
with lots of weeds.  all i notice is that 'smothering' weeds (for instance
chickweed) seem to make more rot, late summer weeds which are more the tall
spindly type, hide the rot, but don't seem to make it worse.  i have 'heard'
that injury gives all these organisms an entry point, and weeding certainly
can contribute to root injury so....
and then there are some varieties out there buried under a smothering layer
of sweet william that are not bothered by rot at all.  not growing a whole
lot, but not rotting either.
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