Phytophthora heart and root rot (Phytophthora spp)

Symptoms

• Young leaves failing to elongate and turning chlorotic
• Heart leaves wilting and turning brown
• Terminal whorl can be easily pulled from mother plant
• Water-soaked tissue at base of leaves, foul smell
• Leaves may be turning red and yellow with necrotic leaf margins and leaf tips
• Plants can easily be pulled out of the ground; fruits color prematurely

Management

• Planting in raised beds helps to drain the soil and reduces incidence of the disease
• Mulch from pineapple debris should be avoided
• Foliar applications of and Dithane (0.3%) Fosetyl Al are very effective at controlling the disease