Bacterial heart rot(Erwinia chrysanthemi)

Symptoms

• Water-soaked lesions on the white basal sections of leaves in the central whorl
• Midportions of leaves become olive green in color with a bloated appearance
• Infected fruits exude juices and the shell becomes olive green, cavities form within the fruit

Management

• Remove and destroy infected fruits
• Avoid the use of infected crowns for seed material to prevent spread of the disease
• Control of ants can significantly reduce disease incidence