Dahlia question
mac12
Posts: 150
Just lifting some dahlias and one has this growing around the top but the rest of the tuber looks ok. What is it and should I keep it?
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mac12
Posts: 150
mac12
Posts: 150
mac12
Posts: 150
mac12
Posts: 150
Posts
If it is, the plant should be destroyed.
But see what others think first
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
'2. Destroy infected plants. Destroy the infected plant. The bacterium will remain in the soil so it is important to plant a resistant plant species. If the same species needs to be planted in the area, remove and replace the soil or consider soil sterilization.
Life Cycle
Crown gall forming bacteria inhabit the soil and survive for many years. The bacterium can initially be brought in on the roots of infected plants. It then spreads by soil and water movement or contaminated pruning tools. Bacteria enter the plant through wounds possibly caused by chewing insects, cultivation damage, or from grafting and pruning tools. The crown gall bacterium has been known to survive more than two years in the soil in the absence of susceptible plants. It can live for several years in decomposing galls buried in the soil. Crown gall is likely to be more serious in limed soil than in acid soils so soil pH could be important in limiting the disease.
From-
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/bacterial-galls/crown-galls
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I wish I had a solution for you.
I suppose you could leave a few in that area but away from the problem area and see how they fare next year.
I don't know how far the problem area may extend, so maybe remove some of the soil in that area and see how things go..
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I don't know if you can safely take cuttings from those? Maybe someone knows the answer to that, but if you've cut them back, it would be too late anyway.
The bacteria are not known to become systemic within a plant. One question then, is whether a grower can take cuttings of branches or shoots distant from the leafy gall. The short answer is no — at least not if you want clean cuttings. Since the bacteria can reside on the plant’s surface without causing symptoms, you can unknowingly be taking cuttings that harbor the pathogen, thereby perpetuating the problem.
From-
https://www.greenhousegrower.com/production/crop-inputs/how-to-prevent-leafy-gall-before-you-lose-plants/
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Not something I've got experience of, as I don't grow Dahlias regularly, and have only started growing them again recently.
Not very encouraging for you @macfall