Growers, retailers and landscapers are being urged to take every measure possible in a bid to prevent the spread of a disease which affects the popular bedding plant Impatiens.
Experts have discovered that the downy mildew disease, which affects Impatiens plants only, has re-appeared in nurseries in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Ireland. It is believed the disease entered the country via imported cutting-raised Impatiens plants, both rooted and unrooted cuttings.
Now, everyone along the supply chain is being urged to play their part in trying to eradicate the disease to minimise any potential impacts and to prevent it from spreading.
BPOA Technical Committee Chairman, Nigel Crosby said: “It is vital that any diseased plants and debris that might have ended up in displays or gardens is removed as soon as possible.
“The best way of identifying if your impatiens plants are infected is by looking out for early symptoms, such as leaves which turn pale on their upperside, followed by a white discoloration on the underside. These will eventually turn yellow and fall off.”
Impatiens downy mildew was first detected in the UK in 2003 and remained absent, or at very low levels, before re-appearing in 2007 and 2008.
The following advice has been issued by the BPOA:
1) Action for growers – Source cutting raised material very carefully or avoid using such material at all. Quarantine bought in cutting raised material for a minimum period of 10-14 days under humid conditions to ensure freedom from infection. If both seed and cutting-raised crops are to be grown then segregate them to minimise risk of cross-transfer of inoculum. Monitor crops carefully, ensure good ventilation and don’t water crops late at night. Obtain the relevant HDC factsheets on the disease. Commence a protectant fungicide programme from seedling emergence onwards. For vegetative material that arrives on the nursery apply a protectant fungicide programme once it has passed its initial quarantine period and demonstrated to be free from infection.
2) Action for landscapers – Remove dying impatiens plants from beds and dispose of them to land fill. Do not rotovate plant material into display beds. Avoid planting impatiens into beds where the disease has been confirmed. Use other bedding plant species in ‘contaminated’ display beds. This disease is specific to impatiens and does not pose a threat to other bedding plant species.
3) Action for retailers – Check incoming plant material for signs of disease. Monitor crops carefully, ensure good ventilation and don’t water crops late at night.
4) Action for consumers – Remove dying impatiens plants from beds and dispose of them to land fill. Do not dig in plant material into beds or include in compost. Avoid planting impatiens into beds where plants have died unexpectedly. Use other bedding plant species in areas where the disease is suspected to have occurred previously. This disease is specific to impatiens and hence does not present a risk to other bedding plant species.
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