[aroid-l] amorph tuber rot problems

From: "Scott Taylor" staylor at brevardparks.com> on 2004.01.02 at 21:46:13(10978) Hello: The best of the New Year to everyone and I enjoy the list immensely. I have discussed this problem with a few of you already, off list, but thought that I would bring it up again, as it is continuing to plague me: I am trying to raise Am. paeoniifolius in some quantity for a few years now. I have been growing in containers, and I am having a continuing problem with a 'soft-rot' of tubers after harvest. I had some pathology work done on some of infected tubers last year and both Rhizopus and Verticillium spp. were found (fungi). The problem typically appears a week or two after harvest, mostly afflicting larger tubers (> 10 cm dia). I find it mostly ineffective to try and 'salvage' infected tubers: if I drastically cut away the infected portion and coat with fungicide, the lesions continue to spread. I altered my growing strategy in several ways this year: 1) brand new potting soil (no more 'reuse' of soil), 2) regular soil drenches with fungicide (Mancozeb)- 4-5 times during the growing season, 3) drench tuber in fungicide after harvest. I am growing to dormancy and handle the tubers with the greatest care during and after harvest (stored cool and dry). However, the problem continues, to a lesser degree perhaps, but still very disconcerting. I suspect that one error I am making is using a soil mixture that is not well enough drained, but I can't believe that with all of the fungicide that I am still experiencing this. Of course, here in Florida where 10 cm of rain may fall on a July afternoon, a 'well-drained' mixture may not apply! Any and all ideas welcome! Many thanks! D. Scott Taylor, Ph.D. Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program Central Region Land Manager 5560 North US Highway 1 Melbourne, FL 32940 +More tel: 321.255.4466 FAX: 321.255.4499 email: staylor@brevardparks.com

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