Fusarium Yellows and Corm Rots

Symptoms

 Symptoms Reduced plant growth and yellow leaves.

 Yellowing increases until the plant dies.
 The roots are killed and become dark brown or decay,
dropping off when corms are lifted.
 Infected corms may have dark brown, circular, rotting areas
on the side or top; a shallow, dark brown basal rot; or only a
light discoloration of conducting tissues above the basal
plate.
 Corm rots may develop in storage if corms have not matured
properly or are not cured soon after digging.
Basal plate rot
Fungus

 Cause Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli, a soilborne

fungus that survives in soil and plant debris for many
years as chlamydospores.
 Population levels are highest in the top 8 inches of soil.
 Spores infect roots and cross the basal plate.
 The fungus in these infections may continue to enter
and spread within the vascular tissues.
 The fungus is spread widely by contaminated soil and
infected corms while local spread can be by water flow
and rain splash.
 Excess nitrogen fertility may favor the disease.
 There may be several types or strains of the fungus as
isolates from gladiolus may infect iris but isolates from
iris may or may not infect gladiolus.
Management

1. Cultural control
 Select clean planting stock and discard all diseased corms.
Corms grown from cormels in clean soil usually are healthier
than corms grown from corms.
 Plant in clean soil.
 Use a 4-year rotation.
 Cure corms quickly after digging (penggalian) and store at
temperatures of 50°F or less, discarding all diseased corms
before storing.
 It has been suggested that keeping the soil pH between 6.6
and 7.0 and utilizing nitrate forms of nitrogen may be helpful.

2. Chemical control Soak clean bulbs 15 to 30 min. within 48

hours after digging. Research in India suggests that fungicides
may be more effective when used at a low pH (3.0); however, this
has not been confirmed in the PNW.