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When choosing which flowers to plant, many gardeners choose asters. Bright, luxurious perennials serve as decoration for the garden plot. Bouquets of them are readily purchased for various holidays and events. But, unfortunately, asters are susceptible to a number of diseases; they are often attacked by various pests. To ensure that cultivation efforts are not in vain, it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology. It is important to know aster diseases and methods of their prevention, to distinguish the 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 accessible even to novice gardeners. But they can still get sick. Diseases of perennial aster are divided into 3 types:
- viral, which are very difficult to treat or incurable;
- bacterial, caused by various pathogens;
- fungal, usually resulting from improper care.
The plant may feel depressed as a result of poor agricultural practices, and a weakened sprout is a good environment for the development of various infections. Common symptoms of pests and diseases are:
- slow growth and development;
- the appearance of spots on stems and leaves;
- wilting of foliage and buds;
- plants die despite proper care.
Aster is the soul of the garden; with proper care, flowering continues until mid-autumn
Diseases of asters and the fight against them
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; today there are 24 of them, and most of them are incurable and highly contagious.
Fusarium wilt
The most dangerous fungal disease of aster. The pathogen persists in the soil and penetrates into the flower through the roots. As the mycelium grows, it clogs the vascular system. As a rule, this happens at the beginning of flowering. External signs of the disease:
- slightly yellow and wilted leaves at 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;
- the flower tissues in the affected areas crack and open, revealing a fungal coating and pinkish pads.
The aster stops growing and 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 is too late. All that remains is to urgently remove the diseased specimens so that they do not infect all the plantings, and generously shed this area of soil with a solution of copper sulfate.
Aster disease caused by the Fusarium fungus is shown in the photo.
The fungus attacks the root system and climbs 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 root collar rot.
The stems fall to the ground and the flower dies. Treatment is as follows:
- Remove all affected seedlings.
- Spray the remaining flowers with Fitosporin solution.
- In the phase of two true leaves, spray again with the same preparation.
The most effective means of preventing this aster disease is to disinfect the soil before planting.
Rust
The disease manifests itself as bright red swellings on the inside of the leaves. They contain spores of a fungal pest. If you don't fight it, the leaves begin to wither, 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 it is not recommended to plant asters closer than 300 m from these trees
Jaundice
Dangerous viral disease of aster. External signs:
- light yellowish spots appear on the leaves along the veins, which become white over time;
- the growth and development of the plant stops.
The disease cannot be treated; affected plants must be burned to prevent the infection from spreading.
The infection that affects asters is carried by insects - aphids and cicadas
Bacterial spot
The causative agent of the disease is Pseudomonas Liquide. Bacteria persist on plant debris, in soil, and in seeds. Affected asters develop brown oily spots. If no measures are taken, the leaves curl and the bush dies. At the first signs, it is necessary to treat the plants with copper sulfate, repeating the procedure 2-3 more times within a month.
Typically, the first symptoms of a dangerous aster disease appear in the budding phase
Gray rot
The disease affects all above-ground parts of the plant, they acquire a light brown, beige tint and rot. In the last phase, a gray fluffy coating appears in these areas. The only treatment is to cut out and burn all affected parts of the asters.
Young aster bushes that have not had time to grow stronger are especially susceptible to the disease.
Pests of asters and their control
Asters are a favorite food of various pests. Parasites have a depressing effect on the plant, drinking juices and transmitting diseases.
Aphid
Small insects settle on the inner, shaded side of the leaves, drinking all the juices from them. The carriers of this infection are ants. Aphids multiply rapidly. That is why it is very important to treat the affected plants with Karbofos, or any other preparation against these insects, as early as possible.
Destroying anthills on the site is an effective way to combat aphids
Spider mite
The pest settles on the inside of the leaves, braiding them with a barely noticeable cobweb. The greenery loses its color, curls, withers and then falls off. Control methods: treatment with a saturated solution of laundry soap.
The pest multiplies very quickly, capturing the stems, buds and buds of asters
Aster blizzard
The beautiful butterfly is a dangerous pest. She lays eggs on the leaves of asters. Caterpillars hatch from them and eat young shoots, buds, and seeds. Insects are collected by hand, treated with insecticides that are effective against caterpillars, and the soil can be spilled with the drug “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 diseases will bypass asters if you follow certain rules and regularly carry out preventive treatments and examinations. The principles of agricultural technology are quite simple:
- Asters cannot be grown in one place for more than 4 years;
- when planting, you must maintain the required 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 disease;
- 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;
- Treatments with a pink solution of manganese and onion peel tincture help;
- 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 against a number of pests - infusions of tobacco, tomato tops, onions, yarrow;
- it is necessary to observe the watering 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 fungal disease and rot;
- at the initial stage, pests can be controlled with a simple soap solution with the addition of caustic substances - pepper, garlic, onions, ammonia;
- once a month, asters can be sprayed with a solution of boric acid;
- Regular fertilizing in the form of fertilizing the soil and spraying also strengthens asters well, preventing the development of diseases.
If infectious diseases were discovered on aster bushes during the growing season, then it is better to postpone planting to the next year and thoroughly disinfect the soil with manganese, fungicides, and copper preparations.
Conclusion
Diseases of asters, unfortunately, are common. The infection can persist in soil that is not treated thoroughly. Viruses, fungi and bacteria can be transferred from diseased plants by insects. Attacks by various pests cannot be ruled out.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 debris in flower beds - these are the principles of growing healthy, beautiful asters.
