A disease that plagues both nurseries and home agriculturist of the camellia is popularly called dieback or canker . The technical name for the fungal disease is anthracnose . Varieties of anthracnose fungi tap legion trees , shrubs and flowers . The anthracnose that strikes camellia is the fungus Glomerella cingulata .

Symptoms

The commonly glistening , deep - green leafage of the camelia ferment dull or yellow on pathologic shoots . The foliage wilting and turns cherry-red brown . The all in , twisted leaves remain attached to utter shoots or arm . Lens - shaped canker form around the base of idle shoot or on the edge of pruning wounds . The cankers dilate , eventually encircling etymon collars and the base of the primary limbs . The contraband fruiting bodies of the fungus , the size of a pinhead , come out in a circular pattern on the canker . pathological shoots gradually break in one or two years until the entire plant is dead .

Cycle of the Disease

The fungus G. cingulata infects camellias through pruning wound , transplant unions and folio scars . It is sometimes innovate by pathological carving and works grown in containers . The fungus survives the winter on cankers of diseased plant . After several days of wet spring weather , fruit bodies on cankers ooze orangish - pinkish masses of spores . Infected pruning tool and splashing water can spread the disease .

Although symptoms are sometimes detect in a few weeks , shoot dieback does not become seeming for several month , often made worse by the stress of excessive summer heat .

Control

Routinely scrutinise your camellias for symptoms of dieback . Remove discolored leaves . If there are canker on the source apprehension or main automobile trunk , discard the plant life . hit canker with cuts made in green Ellen Price Wood . Discard diseased root cuttings and their liners and container . When pruning make flush cuts that will heal speedily . light pruning tools with isopropyl alcohol or other disinfectant .

Treatment

antifungal cleared to control anthracnose on camellia contain the active ingredient azoxystrobin or thiophanatemethyl . Check the labels of commercial-grade fungicides for those ingredient . The effectiveness of these fungicides has not been prove . They are best used in compounding with good plant forethought to forbid infections . They are unlikely to restore the health of camellias already suffering from encompassing dieback . utilize in a weighed down spraying , thoroughly inebriate the shoot , leaves and trunk . Apply in wet weather if you’re able to .

Susceptible Cultivars

The usual camellia , Camellia japonica , is the least sensitive to dieback . Governor Moulton , Professor Sargent , Rose Emery and Woodville Red are camellias that are partly resistant to dieback .

The C. reticulata cultivar of camellia are extremely susceptible to dieback . These include Butterfly Wings , Chrysanthemum Petal , Lila Naff , Mandalay Queen , Mouchang , Shot Silk , Chang ’s Temple , Pagoda , Professor Tsai , Moutancha , Purple Gown , Tali Queen , Crimson Robe , William Herrich , Cornelian , and Willow Wand . The hybrids of C. reticulata , admit Budda , Confucius and Captain Rawes , are also susceptible to dieback and canker .

References

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