Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Stengelbrand, a work in progress!, 1 by Kell

Kell wrote:
This is a work in progress; all information is subject to change. I have written this using lots of info from different people and sources. Previously it had been thought of as a new and different fungus which Monika called Stangelbrand but it now appears to really be phoma with or without other fungus (like Fusarium, Phomopsis, Verticillium etc) possibly invading the infected tissue also.


If anyone has additions or improvements please post here and then I will transfer it all over to the picture thread so we can keep the info all together on 1 thread for quick and easy reference.


Seemingly Truths:
1. Phoma is a fungus.
2. Once a plant has phoma there is no known cure.
3. Even a clean cutting from an infected plant will eventually show up with phoma and it will be contagious even though it shows no obvious symptoms.
4. Phoma lesions are dry rot. They often show up at the nodes of a stem. They are black and slowly dry to a dried scab that often has a black ring around it. The lesions are usually slightly indented.
5. Seeds from infected plants may carry it. I am unclear about this one. I do not know if the pollen is infected or not. Make sure you wash off all pod tissue from seeds. A 10% bleach rinse may be helpful.
6. Aphids, thrips and other sucking insects should be able to transmit it.

How Phoma Spreads:

1. Yellow multihybrids are very prone to catching phoma. They seem to catch it just by being in close proximity to phoma.
2. Brugs with Suaveolens genes also seem to be more prone to it than any other type of brugs.
3. All other brugs can catch it if directly infected with phoma by
A. using a contaminated pruner or a saw or any tool that has come into contact with the sap from an infected brug on it.
B. sharing contaminated water that has been used on an infected brug. Example: if they share a saucer together and water goes thru the soil of the infected plant to the saucer and then is drawn up by the other non-infected plants.
C. using phoma contaminated dirt
D. sharing a cup of water when rooting or a pot of dirt.
E. having your hands come into contact with an infected brug then to go on and touch other brugs without washing your hands well.
F. Insects can carry it thru out your yard.

Prevention:

1. Keep all new cuttings and plants apart from your other brugs for at least 1 year, preferably 2.
2. Observe your brugs carefully and frequently looking for any signs of phoma.
3. Always sterilize any tools that have been used on your brugs before going onto the next brug.
4. Never allow them to share the same saucer.
5. Only keep brugs from the same plant together in a cup of water, or in the same pot to root.
6. Sterilize all pots before reusing.
7. Do not reuse dirt, but if you must, be very careful which dirt you reuse. Never reuse dirt from an infected plant. Phoma lives in the dirt.
8. Use saucers under potted brugs to prevent contaminated water from draining into ground thus contaminating the ground under the plant. If not possible, use under highly phoma prone plants or ones that look suspicious. Realize this saucer then must be sterilized before using under another brug.


If You Have Phoma:

1. Take pictures of the lesions to share info.
2. If possible take a plant sample into your local Agricultural cooperative extension office for diagnosis.
3. Wrap rest of plant carefully and dispose of plant off your property; however you feel is the best way to prevent its spread. Burn if possible.
4. Wrap the dirt and pot if one and also dispose of the best way to prevent further contamination.
5. Sterilize all tools used in plant in boiling water for a minimum of 5 minutes.

If Plant Was in the Ground: in addition to above

1. Dig up plant and wrap carefully to dispose of off your property.
2. Clean and sterilize shovel well.
3. Realize the dirt where the plant was, is now contaminated. Wait several years before you replant a brug in the same place. And a hint: do not plant your best brug there! LOL

To Help STOP the Spread of phoma:

1. Notify the sender of the sick brug so they can take precautions and also notify anyone whom you sent brugs to since you received the infected brug.
2. Add type of brug, picture of lesions and state that you are in, on a thread set up for phoma tracking on your garden forum.
3. If you can, isolate all brugs that may have been contaminated from your other brugs.
4. Do not share cuttings or rooted plants from your collection for at least a year of being phoma free.
5. Only import Brugmansia from other countries with the proper paperwork for unfortunately phoma can be prevalent in different countries.

Please note: All of the safety precautions will also help you prevent the spread of viruses in your collections. In addition, sucking insects like aphids can transmit virus between plants.


This message was edited Apr 26, 2006 12:39 PM