Re: Marigold Flowers

[robert schuler <sunnfarm@bellatlantic.net>]

abigri@iaw.com wrote:
> 
> The flowers on some of our african marigolds show a black rot, which starts
> on the edges of the petals and rapidly spreads over the whole flower. The
> dead parts turn black and somewhat shiny.
> 
> We also see this rot in flower buds that are just cracking open. From the
> outside the buds appear healthy, while the entire inside is already black.
> 
> The symptoms would resemble simple Botrytis, if not for the black, almost
> slimy appearance of the rot.
> 
> Would anybody have an idea what we are looking at ? Any help is appreciated.
> 
> Albert Grimm
> Jeffrey's Greenhouses Ltd.
When Botrytis starts on the old flowers or on the leaves it easily
spreads into the new buds from top watering because new buds have a
funnel shaped exposed area before they open that traps water and allows
disease to enter the bud and can get black and slimey. The Crush series
seems most susceptable because the mature flower heads hold water where
as the Discovery series especially the orange has a mounded bloom that
sheads water.
Robert Schuler
Sunny Meadow Farm
Bridgeton, NJ.