Pest and Diseases of Anthurium

Pest and Diseases of Anthurium

Diseases of Anthurium:

Anthracnose:

This is the most damaging discease of Anthurium, cause by Colletotrichum gleosporioides.  Also known as spadix rot or black nose and it are a problem in high rain fall areas.
Maneb at 2 1b/100 gal and dodine or dyrene at 1 lg/100 gal gave good control of the disease.

Root Rot:

Root rot of A.  Andrenum, incited by Pythium splendens often causes serious losses in Pucrto Rico, especially during rainy season.  This disease can be controlled by a soil application of PCNB (Quintozene) 8 oz/50 gal water.

Leaf Spot:

Leaf spot disease is caused by Septoria anthuri and controlled by sprays of 300 g carbileen (zineb) in 100 liter water, repeated at interval of 2-3 weeks.

Powdery Mildew:

This disease, caused by Erysiphe communis, was first reported on Anthurium scherzerianum grown in Germany.  Treatment with 0.1 % bonomyl casily controls the discase.

Pests of Anthurium:

Aphids:

These insects suck the plant’s sap cause yellowing and distortion of leaves and poor growth.
Systemic insecticides containing dimethoate and Malathion (0.2%) effectively control the aphids.

Scale and Insect:

Scale insects infest stems and leaves, suck the sap and weaken the plants.  Wiping the insects off the plants with a cotton-wool swab soaked in methylated sprit or spray with 0.2% Malathion work well against these insects.

Spider Mites:

These minute mites cause yellowish mottling of the leaves which may become brown and shrivel.  Spraying of affected plants with 0.2% Malathion or kelthane (8 ml in 10 liters of water) was found to be very effective to control the mites.

Thrips:

Thrips suck the sap form leaves and cause a mottled effect on foliage and flowers.  The control mensures are similar to those of aphids and scale insects.