Blossom blight (Phytophythora palmivoras)

Symptoms

• The disease manifests as irregular, light brown, water-soaked patches on flower stalks and petals.
• These spots rapidly enlarge and merge, forming noticeable depressed lesions.
• In humid conditions, the infection becomes more severe, affecting the entire flower head, leading to blossom blight and stalk rot.
• Drizzly rain and cool, damp weather promote the disease.
• The fungus originates in the soil, with the infection starting from the base that comes into contact with the soil.

Management

• Cultivating in disease-free soil helps reduce the occurrence of the disease.
• Infected flowers should be removed and discarded. Excessive watering should be avoided.