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When choosing which flowers to plant, many gardeners opt for asters. Bright, luxurious perennials serve as decoration for the backyard. Bouquets of them are willingly purchased for various holidays and events. But, unfortunately, asters are prone to a number of diseases, they are often attacked by various pests. So that the cultivation work is not in vain, it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology. It is important to know the diseases of asters and methods for their prevention, to distinguish between alarming symptoms of plant damage by insects in the early stages.
Symptoms of diseases and pests of asters
Asters are quite unpretentious and resistant to negative factors. Their cultivation is available even to beginner flower growers. But they can still get sick. Perennial aster diseases are divided into 3 types:
- viral, which are very difficult to treat or are incurable;
- bacterial caused by various pathogens;
- fungal, usually resulting from improper care.
The plant may feel depressed as a result of a violation of agricultural technology, and a weakened sprout is a good environment for the development of various infections. Common symptoms of pest and disease damage are as follows:
- slow growth and development;
- the appearance of spots on the stems, leaves;
- wilting of foliage and buds;
- plants die despite proper care.
Astra is the soul of the garden, flowering with proper care continues until mid-autumn
Asters diseases and their control
Free trade in seed and planting material from abroad contributes to the emergence and spread of dangerous diseases that are not typical for this region. The number of viral infections has increased, to date there are 24 of them, and most of them are incurable and highly contagious.
Fusarium wilt
The most dangerous fungal disease of asters. The causative agent remains in the soil, through the roots it penetrates into the flower. As the mycelium grows, it clogs the vascular system. As a rule, this occurs at the beginning of flowering. External signs of the disease:
- slightly yellow and withered leaves in the first stage, then they turn black, curl and fall off;
- longitudinal spots and stripes of a brownish tint appear on the stems, and the affected area is on one side of the aster;
- flower tissues in the affected areas crack, open, exposing mushroom plaque and pinkish pads.
Astra stops growing, fades. Fusarium is incurable. In the early stages, when the flowers can still be saved, it is impossible to detect it. And when the defeat is visible to the naked eye, it becomes too late. It remains only to urgently remove the diseased specimens so that they do not infect all the plantings, and shed this area of soil abundantly with a solution of copper sulphate.
Aster disease caused by the Fusarium fungus is shown in the photo.
The fungus infects the root system and moves up the stem
Blackleg
This disease quite often affects asters. The causative agent is a fungus that lives in acidic soils. Signs of the disease:
- black spots appear on seedlings and seedlings;
- the base of the stem and the root collar rot.
The stems fall to the ground, and the flower dies. Treatment is the following:
- Remove all affected seedlings.
- Shed the remaining flowers with Fitosporin solution.
- In the phase of two true leaves, re-spray with the same preparation.
The most effective means of preventing this asters disease is soil disinfection before planting.
Rust
The disease manifests itself in the form of bright red swellings on the inside of the leaves. They contain spores of the pest fungus. If you do not fight it, the leaves begin to fade, fall off, and the plant dies. Control methods: spraying with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture for 10 days. You can also treat asters with sulfur powder in combination with the same amount of slaked lime.
The source of rust infection is pine trees, so planting asters closer than 300 m from these trees is not recommended.
Jaundice
Dangerous viral disease asters. External signs:
- light yellowish spots appear on the leaves along the veins, which eventually become white;
- plant growth and development stops.
The disease cannot be treated, the affected plants must be burned so that the infection does not spread.
The infection that affects asters is carried by insects – aphids and cicadas
Bacterial spotting
The causative agent of the disease is Pseudomonas Liquide. Bacteria survive on plant debris, in soil, and in seeds. Affected asters develop brown oily spots. If no action is taken, the leaves curl, the bush dies. At the first signs, it is necessary to treat the plants with copper sulphate, repeating the procedure 2-3 more times within a month.
Usually, the first symptoms of a dangerous asters disease appear in the budding phase.
Gray mold
The disease affects all above-ground parts of the plant, they become light brown, beige and rot. In the last phase, a gray fluffy coating appears in these areas. The only cure is to cut out and burn all the affected parts of the asters.
Particularly susceptible to disease are young aster bushes that have not had time to get stronger.
Pests of asters and their control
Asters are a favorite food of various pests. Parasites have a depressing effect on the plant, drinking juices, carrying diseases.
aphid
Small insects settle on the inner, shaded side of the leaves, drinking all the juices from them. Ants are carriers of this disease. Aphids multiply rapidly. That is why it is very important to treat the affected plants with Karbofos, or any other drug from these insects, as soon as possible.
The destruction of anthills on the site is an effective way to deal with aphids
Tick of the web
The pest settles on the inside of the leaves, braiding them with a barely noticeable cobweb. Greenery loses color, curls, fades and then falls off. Control methods – treatment with a saturated solution of laundry soap.
The pest reproduces very quickly, capturing the stems, buds and buds of asters.
Aster blizzard
A beautiful butterfly is a dangerous pest. She lays her eggs on the leaves of asters. Caterpillars hatch from them, which eat young shoots, buds, seeds. Insects are harvested by hand, treated with insecticides that are effective against caterpillars, the soil can be spilled with Bazudin or sprinkled with lime.
To reduce the risk of butterflies, it is necessary to destroy weeds.
Prevention of diseases and pests in asters
Most of the diseases will bypass the asters, if you follow certain rules and regularly carry out preventive treatments and examinations. The principles of agricultural technology are quite simple:
- you can not grow asters in one place for more than 4 years;
- when landing, it is necessary to observe the prescribed distance, and choose a sunny place;
- nearby groundwater and flooded areas can provoke the development of diseases in asters;
- fresh manure can cause infection, it is better to use well-rotted humus;
- loosening after watering will give an additional supply of oxygen to the roots of asters, which has a good effect on their development and ability to resist diseases;
- seeds must be soaked in the preparation “Fundazol”, a weak solution of manganese;
- the soil should be disinfected before planting – steamed, dug with lime, spilled with a solution of copper sulfate or copper oxychloride;
- help processing with a pink solution of manganese, tincture of onion peel;
- at the first signs of fungal diseases, plants must be treated with fungicides according to the instructions, scheduled spraying is carried out 2-3 times a season – at the beginning of the growing season, at the budding stage and at the end of flowering;
- folk remedies help from a number of pests – infusions of tobacco, tomato tops, onions, yarrow;
- it is necessary to observe the irrigation regime, avoiding overdrying and too much humidity, the soil can be disinfected by spraying with copper sulfate once a month, this will protect against the development of a fungal disease, rot;
- at the initial stage, pests can be fought with a simple soapy solution with the addition of caustic substances – pepper, garlic, onion, ammonia;
- once a month, asters can be sprayed with a solution of boric acid;
- regular top dressing in the form of fertilizing the soil and spraying also strengthens asters well, preventing the development of diseases.
If during the growing season infectious diseases were found on the aster bushes, then it is better to transfer the planting to the next year, and thoroughly disinfect the soil with manganese, fungicides, and copper preparations.
Conclusion
Asters diseases are, unfortunately, common. The infection can persist in soil that has not been properly treated. Viruses, fungi and bacteria can be carried by insects from diseased plants. Attacks of various pests are not excluded. Preventive measures will help prevent diseases. Compliance with the requirements of agricultural technology, the destruction of diseased and suspicious specimens, the absence of weeds and plant residues in the flower beds – these are the principles of growing healthy, beautiful asters.
