Ficus

BACTERIAL PROBLEMS 1) Crown gall - (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Symptoms - Slightly swollen areas on the stems, leaf veins and even roots are initially apparent. These swollen areas enlarge and become corky. n cases of severe infection they may enlarge and merge to create a very distorted stem or root mass. !alls may also form on the ends of c"ttings or stems where c"ttings have been removed. Control - #emove and destroy all plants fo"nd infected with the bacteri"m, then sterili$e any c"tting tools "sed on them. Since a f"ng"s is also known to ca"se galls on Ficus, and acc"rate disease diagnosis m"st be made. %) &anthomonas leaf spot - (Xanthomonas campestris pv. fici) Symptoms - 'oliar infections on fic"s start as tiny pinpoint water-soaked areas which can rapidly enlarge. They tend to remain confined to the areas between leaf veins. Sometimes lesions have a bright yellow border. n severe infections leaf abscission is common. (ll fic"s species tested have been fo"nd s"sceptible to the pathogen, altho"gh the most commonly affected plants are Ficus benjamina. Control - )liminate all stock plants which have &anthomonas leaf spot. The disease can be diffic"lt to control if plants are prod"ced with overhead watering or e*pos"re to rainfall. +actericides s"ch as copper containing compo"nds may be somewhat effective if "sed on a preventative and reg"lar basis. n addition, "se of elevated rates of fertili$er have been shown to red"ce severity of &anthomonas leaf spot on Ficus benjamina.

FUNGAL PROBLEMS 1) (nthracnose - (Glomerella cingulata, Colletotrichum spp.) Symptoms - (nthracnose is characteri$ed by yellow and later dark brown spots anywhere on the leaf. ,ellowish masses of spores form in $ones along leaf veins or in concentric rings in the spot. )vent"ally leaves may abscise. Ficus elastica c"ltivars are commonly infected with this pathogen d"ring the s"mmer months and appear especially s"sceptible when they are being rooted "nder mist conditions. Control - -eep plant stresses from water and heat to a minim"m. .o not "se any c"ttings which have spots when taken from the stock plants. /n rooted plants minimi$e overhead irrigation and e*pos"re to rainfall if possible. %) +otrytis blight - (Botrytis cinerea) Symptoms - 0arge, tan to brown leaf spots with concentric rings, "s"ally fo"nd between the leaf and sheath or on leaf tips. +otrytis blight occ"rs primarily on Ficus elastica d"ring cool periods of the year especially on c"ttings. 1) Cercospora leaf spot - (Cercospora sp.) Symptoms - Tiny and slightly raised, red or dark green spots on lower s"rface of Ficus elastica leaves. Control 2) Corynespora leaf spot - (Corynespora cassiicola) Symptoms - Small to large, reddish leaf spots on the yo"ngest mat"re leaves, with leaf abscission common in severe infections when leaf spots e*pand interveinally. Control - This disease occ"rs on both green and variegated forms of Ficus benjamina and Ficus nitida b"t is more severe on the variegated c"ltivars. -eep fertili$er applications at recommended levels, and eliminate overhead water if possible. 3) So"thern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) Symptoms - 4lants with so"thern blight may initially appear similar to those infected with many stem or root infecting f"ngi. (s the disease advances, however, the white cottony masses of mycelia and brown seed-like sclerotia set this disease apart. The sclerotia "s"ally form on the basal portion of stems of infected plants b"t may also be fo"nd on infected leaves. )vent"ally the entire c"tting or plant may be covered with the f"ng"s. Control - So"thern blight m"st be controlled thro"gh preventions. 5se pathogen-free potting medi"m, pots and planting materials. NEMATODE PROBLEMS

1) 'oliar nematode - (Aphelenchoides besseyi) Symptoms - 0eaf spots begin near the midvein on lower leaves and e*tend to the margin. They are "s"ally rectang"lar in shape. The primary species of Ficus which is a host for this nematode is F. elastica. Control - nfection of Ficus elastica occ"rs thro"gh movement of nematodes from weeds to lower leaves. 6ow weeds in field plantings to stop this movement. %) 0esion nematode - (Pratylenchus sp.) Symptoms - #oot systems are greatly red"ced in vigor and appear rotted in many cases. Since the symptoms ca"sed by f"ngal root pathogens are so similar, acc"rate diagnosis of the problem is critical to disease control. Control - 5se sterile soil and grow plants off the gro"nd if possible. 1) #oot knot nematode - (Meloidogyne spp.) Symptoms - !alls occ"r on roots and the root system may be drastically red"ced7 plant st"nting and wilting occ"r when severe infestations are present. Control - 5se sterile soil and grow plants off the gro"nd if possible. INSECT AND RELATED PROBLEMS The ma8or insect pests of this plant gro"p incl"de mealyb"gs, scales and thrips. 9owever, there are a n"mber of minor arthropod pests s"ch as mites, f"ng"s gnats and aphids which will attack Ficus spp. occasionally, b"t will not be disc"ssed here. n the control section for each pest, a few of the many registered and effective pesticides will be listed. 1) 6ealyb"gs Symptoms - 6ealyb"gs appear as white, cottony masses in leaf a*ils, on the lower s"rfaces of leaves and on roots. 9oneydew and sooty mold are often present and infested plants become st"nted and, with severe infestations, plants parts die. Control - Systemic materials are preferred. % Scales Symptoms - nfested plants become weakened or st"nted and die. Scales can be fo"nd feeding on leaves, petioles or stems. Their shapes, si$es and colors are variable and many are hard to disting"ish from the plant material on which they are feeding. Control - See mealyb"gs. 1) Thrips Symptoms - nfested leaves become c"rled or distorted, with silver-gray scars where feeding has occ"rred. Thrips damage is most severe on F. nitida.

Control - 6any materials are registered and effective in controlling thrips.

.aconil '"ngicide (Chlorothalonil '"ngicide) Controls: 0eaf Spots, #"st, +lights, 'r"it #ots, 6ildews, Scab, 6olds and other listed plant diseases. Captan C/;T#/0S: Scab, +lack Spot, +otrytis, (nthracnose, +rown #ot, .amping-/ff, #oot #ot, 0eaf Spot, +rown 4atch and .owny 6ildew.

http:<<www.1%1.ro<content<show=article.php1>article=id?%@%Apage=nr?1B 'ic"s"l ben8amina este o varieta c" fr"n$e panasate c" alb. )ste sensibil la lipsa "miditatii atmosferice, treb"ie des p"lveri$at c" apa pe fr"n$e, event"al d"s. (re nevoie de l"mina m"lta, mai m"lta decat forma c" fr"n$e ver$i si decat 'ic"s elastica obisn"it, dar n" s"porta soarele direct si intens. Temperat"ra optima este de 1C-%% garde Celsi"s. 'rig"l, c"rentii reci de aer, aer"l foarte cald si "scat, combinat c" lipsa l"minii provoaca pierderea fr"n$elor. ."pa c"mpararea din florarie treb"ie transplantat intr-"n pamant de flori amestec "niversal (pamant de gradina D pamant de fr"n$e sa" mranita si nisip) sa" pamant de la florarie, dar n" t"rba. .e$voltarea acarienilor este favori$ata de aer"l "scat si cald din perioadele secetoase. 4lantele treb"ie stropite c" "n acaricid. .e obicei, se practica o stropire c" "n prod"s care ataca fa$a act"ala in combinatie c" "n ovicid (e*. ;issor"n D /mite), in perioada de primavara sa" la aparitia atac"l"i. .e obicei, da"nator"l n" dispare c" "s"rinta si treb"ie reali$ate mai m"lte stropiri, la interval de C-1B $ile. 4e piata e*ista n"meroase acaricide: ;)/#/;, .)6 T(;, /6 T), S5;6 T), ; SS/#5;, +,)-+,), 6 T !(;, etc. sa" insecto-acaricide: T(0ST(# )TC. 4entr" a stopa sa" incetini atac"l, plantele treb"ie p"lveri$ate des c" apa pe fr"n$e, in perioadele c" aer "scat si cald. Chiar daca pe moment da"nator"l dispare, el poate fi transportat din no" pe plantele respective prin c"renti de aer - cand se deschide fereastra, de e*empl". .aca n" ai reali$at corect dil"area acaricid"l"i sa" daca acesta e spray si a fost aplicat prea aproape de planta, e posibil ca planta sa s"fere si sa i se "s"ce fr"n$ele. Cred tot"si, ca in ca$"l 'ic"s"l"i p"mila, n" n"mai paian8en"l este vinovat. )ste o planta dest"l de sensibila la aer"l "scat si cald. (r resista bine daca "miditatea din atmosfera ar fi mare. Cel mai bine s"porta temperat"rile temperate (%B-%2oC), incaperile aerisite si fara c"renti, aer"l mai "med, l"mina m"lta, dar indirecta. ;ecesita p"lveri$ari dese c" apa pe fr"n$e. 4oti contin"a tratament"l c" ;)/#/; (mai m"lte stropiri la interval de C-1B $ile). BOLI -TRANDAFIR Fungicide recomanda e! fEinare: Triadimefon (+ayleton, Strike)7 Triforine ('"ngine*), Thiophanate-methyl (ClearyFs 111G, .omain). 4ropicona$ole (+anner) Hi f"ngicidele c"

s"lf. 4t patarea neagrE: 'olpet (4haltan), Captan, 6anco$eb ('ore), Chlorothalonil (.aconil) Hi Triforine ('"ngine*). 4t. r"gina: Triforine ('"ngine*), 6anco$eb ('ore) Hi Chlorothalonil (.aconil). " #!$$o"io%ine&osu&edu$"'g-(ac $)***$inde+&" m% ;r. Denumirea 1. Bo ri 's ClearyFs 111G, .omain, (Thiophanate-methyl), 4hyton-%I, -ocide 1B1, (Copper-based compo"nds), Chipco %GB1@, ( prodione), and )*otherm Termil, .aconil %ICI, (Chlorothalonil), vinclo$olin (/rnalin)
.ithane 6-23), chlorothalonil (.aconil 5ltre*), fosetyl-(l (Chipco (liette), mefeno*am (S"bd"e 6(&&) Hi a$o*ystrobin (9eritage). S"bd"e 6(&& Hi Chipco (liette a" "n restrans spectr" sistemic, iar 6anco$eb, chlorothalonil, Hi a$o*ystrobin s"nt mai b"ne, n" necesita aplicare frecventE.

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1. Bo r'os#"aeria 2. Roo Ro 3. Ga,on "scarea administrarea de ;, de % ori pe sEpt.Chimic: f"ngicide ga$on thiophanate-methyl,demethylation, stobil"rinsK "l"i, a$o*ystrobin, triflo*ystrobin, Hi pyraclostrobin7 apar sterol inhibitoriKfenarimol, triadimefon, $one propicona$ole Hi myclob"tanil7 thiophanate-methyl7 Jn care iprodione7 Hi fl"dio*onil iarba este "scatE chlorothalonil (.aconil 5ltre*), iprodione (Chipco %GB1@ or %G!T), vinclo$olin, Thiophanate-methyl (ClearyLs 111G), a$o*ystrobin (9eritage), fl"tolanil (4roStar), manco$eb ('ore), 4C;+, triflo*ystrobin (Compass), pyraclostrobin ( nsignia) Hi polyo*in . $inc salt ()ndorseChipco (liette Hi S"bd"e 6(&& ben$imida$oles (e.g., .omain, Topsin-6, ClearyFs 111G,

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$one in care iarba este "scatE. I. C. @. 1B. 11. 1%. 11. 12. 13. 1G. 1I. 1C. 1@. %B. %1. %%. %1. %2. %3.

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