Re: [aroid-l] Amorphophallus tuber disease

From: Rand Nicholson writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 2003.02.15 at 12:10:13(9986) Hi Scott: This is certainly not Florida, but I do have to store my various tender tubers over the winter out of ground and the only thing I have used is a dusting of common sulphur powder. This is applied before planting and after being dug up and dried. The tubers do not rot and varmints do not nibble at them. If a tuber is dug and there is a "soft spot" on any of them, I simply cut back to good flesh, dust the wound and let it dry. If not badly damaged the tuber will usually sprout again and form a new healthy tuber. They are stored cool and dry, except an Amorph. konjac (cleaned but untreated, sulphur being what it is), which I often use as a paperweight on my desk just to make people ask questions. Plus, it is interesting to watch the thing slowly start up at the growing point when it decides to do so. Rand +More z5b Maritime Canada (-23 C, where moose wear mittens) Hello: Pardon if I have already contacted a few of you directly on this issue: I am attempting to grow Amorphophallus paeoniifolius in some quantity. (I live in east central Florida). I have had problems with (apparent) fungal injections in the tubers after harvest. I am given to understand that this is not an uncommon problem: they develop rotten spots within one week, as this affliction continues until most of the tubers are unsuitable for planting next season. I have not used fungicides in the past, either during the growing season or during post-harvest. I suspect at this point that I should do both. Can any of you give specific recommendation on actions to take during both the growing season and post-harvest? I.E. specific fungicides, methods of handling at harvest, storage of tubers, etc. Any advice would be well-appreciated.. it is very distressing to watch a 8 kg. tuber rot before ones eyes! Thanking you very much in advance. D. Scott Taylor, Ph.D. Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program Central Region Land Manager 5560 North US Highway 1 Melbourne, FL 32940 tel: 321.255.4466 FAX: 321.255.4499 email: staylor@brevardparks.com

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