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Botany and Plant Pathology

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects many ornamental plants like roses, snapdragons, and begonias. It causes a grayish-white, powdery growth on the leaves, stems, and buds. If left untreated, it can cause leaves to yellow and drop prematurely. The fungus spreads easily through airborne spores, favoring high humidity conditions. Home gardeners can reduce powdery mildew by pruning plants to increase air flow, watering at the soil rather than the leaves, applying appropriate fungicides at the first sign of infection, and cleaning up and destroying infected plant debris in the fall.

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89 views2 pages

Botany and Plant Pathology

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects many ornamental plants like roses, snapdragons, and begonias. It causes a grayish-white, powdery growth on the leaves, stems, and buds. If left untreated, it can cause leaves to yellow and drop prematurely. The fungus spreads easily through airborne spores, favoring high humidity conditions. Home gardeners can reduce powdery mildew by pruning plants to increase air flow, watering at the soil rather than the leaves, applying appropriate fungicides at the first sign of infection, and cleaning up and destroying infected plant debris in the fall.

Uploaded by

mdoll
Copyright
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BP-5-W

Botany and Plant Pathology


Ornamental Diseases
Powdery Mildew of Ornamentals
Powdery mildew is a common disease of ornamental plants. It generally occurs
in late summer or early fall, especially if the weather is cool and if night dews
are heavy enough to remain on the plants during the morning. Trees, flowers, and
shrubs most often affected are roses, snapdragons, African violets, kalanchoe,
English ivy, zinnias, photinia. oak, lilac, and begonias.
Symptom and Cause
The primary sign of powdery mildew are grayish white, powdery blotches on
Paul C. Pecknold, leaves stems and buds. Initially, powdery fungal growth will appear on the upper
Extension Plant leaf surface of the lower leaves. Eventually the entire leaf may become covered
Pathologist with mildew growth. Once a plant is infected, the leaves turn yellow and drop
prematurely. Flower buds might develop abnormally or fail to open. Mildew also
weakens perennials and makes them more subject to winter injury.
Any one of seven closely-related fungi can cause powdery mildew. These fungi
usually first attack leaves that are crowded and close to the ground. The spores
are carried by air currents and germinate on the leaf surface. Liquid water on
leaves inhibits spore germination. The fungus grows on the leaf surface but sends
fine threads (haustoria) into the cells to obtain nutrients. From the time a spore
Reference to products in this germinates to the time new spores form may require only 48 hours. High humidity
publication is not intended favors spore formation while low humidity favors spore dispersal.
to be an endorsement to the
exclusion of others which
Control Measures
may be similar. Persons Gardening Practices
using such products assume High relative humidity at night and low relative humidity during the day with
responsibility for their use temperatures of 70o - 80oF (conditions that prevail in spring and fall) favor
in accordance with current
powdery mildew. Maintaining conditions that favor rapid drying of foliage will
label directions of the
manufacturer.
help reduce disease incidence. Locate susceptible plants in open areas where
they will not be crowded. Plants in shade are more prone to mildew than are
those growing in sunlight. Prune to thin out any dense foliage; this will increase
air movement and favor rapid drying of foliage. Avoid nightly sprinkling during
August and September; instead, soak the soil as needed.

Purdue University • Cooperative Extension Service • West Lafayette, IN 47907


Figure 2. Fungicides for powdery mildew control
Powdery mildews are generally most severe on
young. succulent growth which excessive nitrogen
promotes. A balanced fertilization program is
advisable.
In the fall, clean up and dispose of all mildew-
infected plant debris. This will help reduce the
amount of disease next year.
Chemical Control
Powdery mildew can occur any time throughout
the growing season; spray susceptible plants with
Figure 1.Powdery mildew on lilac an appropriate fungicide at the first sign of mildew.
Cover the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves
thoroughly. Repeat the treatment at intervals of 7 to
Common Name Trade Name 14 days or as often as necessary to protect the new
myclobutanil Immunox growth.
propiconazole Banner Note: Powdery mildew on most deciduous trees does
little damage and does not require fungicides.
thiophanate-methyl Cleary’s 3336, Domain,
Fungo-Flo Before buying one of the listed fungicides. check
the label to see if the plant type you wish to spray
thiophanate methyl + Zyban, Duosan
is listed; pesticides can be applied to only those
mancozeb
plant types appearing on the label. Follow all label
triadimefon Bayleton, Strike instructions regarding amounts of pesticide to use.
triforine Triforine, Funginex methods of application. and safety warnings. Never
use a pesticide without first reading the label.

REVISED 5/01
It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, David C. Petritz, Director, that all persons shall have equal opportunity and
access to the programs and facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation,
or disability. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.
1-888-EXT-INFO
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia

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