Want to learn more about plants?
Explore our easy-to-read educational Blog
Signs of damage
- Leaf damage. Leaves will begin to curl and get distorted. They’ll begin yellowing and stippling, and it can even lead to necrotic spots across their surfaces.
- Spores. White spores from the pathogen will appear on the down-facing surface of the leaves.
- Defoliation.
- Stunted growth. The damage will result in the inability for proper development, and plants will begin to grow slower or even cease to grow.
How to prevent
Plants’ health begins with a clean space, without old crops or any dead or infected material, and proper airflow. Selective pruning should also be practiced.
Unnecessary or excessive moisture should be kept under control. This could be done by optimal watering practices, such as water from below, close to the ground, to allow leaves to remain dry and a less susceptible environment for molds. Mulching is also an important practice to retain and control moisture in the soil.
Heal
Fungicides like chlorothalonil and mancozeb are known to be the most effective fungicides for downy mildew, although they’re usually considered to be more protectant than healing. Neem oil is known for being a good way to keep downy mildew and other similar diseases other control. Heat treatments to raise the cold temperatures will also kill the pathogens and allow plants to develop properly.
Go Premium to continue reading
Also you’ll get unlimited access to disease identification and all the other beneficial features
