Peony diseases and their treatment according to all the rules! Main diseases of peony Why does peony have purple leaves after flowering?

Peonies are perennial plants that delight with their annual lush flowering. Perhaps in every garden you can find peony bushes with different colors and shapes of petals. You can’t take your eyes off the blooming peony bush. Gardeners love the flower for its easy care and unpretentiousness.

The vagaries of nature, manifested in the form of cold, long spring rains, temperature changes and many other factors can cause a number of dangerous diseases that are destructive to plants. Let’s try to figure out how to treat peonies against diseases.

Diseases

Viral and fungal diseases of peonies have been identified. The symptoms of many diseases are very similar and often only specialists can reliably indicate the specifics of the plant disease. Let's talk about peony diseases caused by various pathogens and their treatment.

Viral diseases

Peonies are most susceptible to attack by fungal pathogens. But recently, cases of viral plant pathology have become more frequent. According to scientists, mixed plant viral infections often affect peonies. Diseases and the fight against them await gardeners throughout the summer season.

Viral infections easily transmitted through low-quality planting material, contaminated soil, garden tools. Ants and nematodes can spread the virus to healthy plants.

Ring mosaic of leaves is the most common viral pathology of peonies. The virus takes over the plant gradually. A multi-colored mosaic pattern appears on the leaf blades: rings, half-rings, lines, sometimes merging into stripes of different colors. Light green, yellow-green, bright yellow spots along the main veins create blurry single spots or can merge and radically change the color of the leaf blade. Peonies: leaf disease in the form of mottling and mosaic coloring of leaves indicates the viral etiology of peony disease.

Viral diseases cover plants after peonies bloom. The decorative effect of the shrub is lost with the appearance of variegation of individual leaf blades. In the initial stages of the plant disease, the damaged leaves along with the stem should be completely cut out.

The mosaic virus does not have a detrimental effect on the plant, the peony grows and blooms in due time. There is an opinion that a strong plant copes with the virus on its own, but by autumn it can go into a latent period of existence and appear in the next growing year. If a plant is completely infected with a viral mosaic, it is better to get rid of the diseased bush completely.

Fungal diseases

1. Gray rot
Gray rot is considered the most dangerous disease for peony. All parts of the plant are susceptible to the disease: from stems, leaves, buds, flowers, to the root system. Signs of plant disease can be observed in early spring. Peony shoots at soil level have a brown tint in the form of a ring; gradually they rot and disappear.

A characteristic dark gray coating is visible on the soil - sclerotia. The ends of the leaves become covered with brown spots. The affected leaf blades dry out and die on hot days, and in persistent humid and damp weather they become covered with a gray coating. Flower buds affected by gray rot do not have time to open. IN
Depending on weather conditions, they turn brown, dry out or rot.

If the fungal pathogen reaches the flower, then it has an ugly shape. The affected flowers open one-sidedly, the petals acquire a brown tint and dry out over time. The disease affects the bush very quickly. Literally after 2-3 days, the stems and leaves fall to the ground and the plant dies.

The causes of gray rot are considered to be rainy and cold weather with temperature changes, close groundwater in the area, heavy clay soil, thickening of peony plantings, and the application of large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers for feeding. The causative agent of the disease persists in the soil and on infected parts of plants. Gray mold spores can be carried by ants throughout the garden area. Early varieties of peonies are most susceptible to the disease.

2. Rust
Rust is another common fungal disease of peonies. Spots on the leaves appear after the plant blooms: brown or yellowish, framed by a dark brown or purple border. On the underside of the leaf you can see orange swellings with spores, which are easily carried by the wind and infect healthy plants. By autumn, the swellings form into columns and dry out, keeping the pathogen inside.

Warm, rainy weather promotes the development of rust. Peony bushes affected by this disease dry out prematurely, do not tolerate wintering well, and develop and bloom poorly the next year. There are varieties of peonies that are rust-resistant.

3. Cladosporiosis
Cladosporiosis or brown spot is another type of leaf spot on peonies. In June, individual brown spots appear on the leaf blades of the peony; over time, they increase in size, gradually covering the entire leaf. From the outside it looks like the peony leaves are burnt. On the inside of the leaf after prolonged rains, fungal spores are clearly visible in the form of a dark gray cluster.

Brown spotting can affect peony stems, buds and flowers. Cladosporiosis can be detected on the plant in early spring. Damaged young shoots have red-brown inclusions; over time, the shoots turn brown and acquire a smoky coating. The pathogen spores overwinter on cut peony leaves.

4. Phyllostictosis
Phyllosticosis is observed in peonies during flowering. On the underside of the leaf blade you can observe small round brown spots with a purple border. After some time, they increase in size and become lighter. Dark convex inclusions appear in the thickness of the leaf - fungal pycnidia. They lead to rupture of leaves, which gradually dry out. The plant becomes exhausted and develops poorly the next year. Pycnidia overwinter on plant debris and germinate in the spring, infecting young shoots.

5. Septoria
Septoria has a second name - brown spot. The disease affects the plant in June-July after flowering. The lower leaves and stems begin to get sick, and gradually the disease covers the entire plant. Brown spots appear on both sides of the leaf blades, outlined with a purple outline and a light center. Over time, the spots change color to ash-gray. Fungal spores, pycnidia, appear on the underside of the leaf, which can overwinter on fallen leaves and serve as a source of disease for young plants in early spring.

6. Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew does not affect peonies very often. Due to unfavorable natural factors, the disease affects individual plant specimens sporadically. A powdery white coating consisting of mycelium with spores forms on the upper leaf plate. Affected leaves sometimes wrinkle and dry out. Pathogenic spores persist and overwinter on plant debris.

7. Root rot
Peony root diseases should be treated promptly. Root rot is caused by various fungal spores. Usually the disease can be recognized when replanting peonies or propagating the plant by dividing the bush. The affected roots have a softened appearance and are covered with mycelium and spores of pinkish, gray or white color, depending on the pathogen. The disease occurs on acidic soil with high humidity.

How to treat

Measures for the treatment of peony diseases come down to the timely removal of diseased parts of the peony bush or the entire plant and treatment with special antifungal drugs.

If fungal diseases are detected, damaged parts of the plant are removed to the soil surface. Peony bushes are watered with solutions of foundationazole (0.2%), zineb (0.5%) or TMDT (0.6%).

In early spring, when shoots appear from the ground, remove the top layer of soil to a depth of 2-3 cm and fill it with fresh, uncontaminated soil mixed with sand.

Peonies are treated with fungicidal solutions by spraying three times per season: at the time the first shoots appear, during bud setting and after flowering.

The following drugs are used for treatment: 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture, 0.2% solution of foundationazole, fungicide Maxim, 0.1% solution of topaz, 0.5-0.7% solution of copper oxychloride. 2-3 liters of one of these solutions per peony bush is enough.

If necessary, spraying with antifungal drugs is carried out after 10-12 days until the signs of the disease disappear.

If there are not many affected plants on the site, then you can get by with natural medicines. To do this, brew 500 g of fresh celandine herb with 5 liters of boiling water, leave for about 2 hours and spray the diseased plants. After 5 days, spraying is repeated.

Prevention from diseases

Peonies: Diseases and pests are easier to prevent than to treat and eliminate, so the following tips will help you grow healthy plants with lush flowers.

• Mandatory preventive treatment of plants several times a season.
• Proper agricultural technology (timely loosening, watering, fertilizing).
• Use of healthy planting material.

In culture, its resistance to adverse environmental factors is significantly reduced due to pathogens that cause various diseases. Fungi predominate among the pathogens, but recently viruses have also become widespread.

According to the literature, peony is affected by 5 viruses - tobacco rattle ( Tobacco rattle virus), latent strawberry ringspot ( Strawberry latent ringspot virus), raspberry ringspot ( Raspberry ringspot virus), cucumber mosaic ( Cucumber mosaic virus) and alfalfa mosaics ( Alfalfa mosaic virus) .

Ring mosaic of leaves, or ring spot. This is a symptom of a widespread disease of peonies, found wherever they are cultivated. Rings and half-rings, stripes of various shapes and colors appear on the leaves between the veins - from light green, greenish-yellow to bright yellow. They can merge, and a characteristic marbled or linear pattern appears on the leaves. By the end of the growing season, the spots sometimes become necrotic. The disease is caused by the tobacco rattle virus, which was formerly known as the peony ringspot virus.

In the Non-Black Earth zone of Russia, including in private plots of the Moscow region, viral infection on peonies is widespread. In the collection of the Main Botanical Garden (GBG), the appearance of symptoms of a viral infection on this crop has been recorded annually for more than 30 years, and in recent years there has been an increase in the number of diseased plants with pronounced manifestations of diseases on the leaves: the first signs are usually visible in the spring. They are very diverse, sometimes change during the growing season and vary significantly depending on the peony variety and the type (strain) of the virus.

These can be various spots, appearing in the form of large or small, vague or clear, annular spots (including concentric ones) of various colors - from light and yellow-green to yellow and bright yellow (Fig. 1–5).

Symptoms of virus infection tobacco mosaics (TMV) and tobacco rattle (TRV)	Cucumber mosaic viruses (CMV) and alfalfa mosaics (AMV)
Latent ringspot viruses strawberry (SLRSV) and Raspberry ringspot (RRSV)	Tomato aspermia viruses (TAV) and tobacco rattle (TRV)

On some varieties, necrotic spots were noted. Also observed were striking symptoms such as jaundice of white-yellow and yellow color, sometimes along the central vein (Fig. 6), mottling, mosaic (Fig. 7, 8) and a linear pattern (Fig. 9). Some plants exhibited interveinal chlorosis and well-defined variegation. In addition, in a number of varieties the leaf blade was deformed (Fig. 10), becoming narrow, wrinkled, pitted and tuberculate, the leaf lobes were bent, the tips of which were sometimes chopped off and twisted upward. On some plants, curling of the leaves was observed, which became wavy, wrinkled and seemed to be pressed against the stem, turned inside out, and the petiole bent downwards.

Rattle virus tobacco (TRV)	Tobacco rattle viruses (TRV) and cucumber mosaic (СMV)
Alfalfa mosaic viruses (AMV) and carnation mottling (CarMV)	Cucumber mosaic viruses (CMV) and alfalfa mosaics (AMV)
Latent ring viruses Strawberry Spot Spot (SLRSV) and ring spot raspberries (RRSV)	Cucumber mosaic viruses (CMV) and rezuha mosaics (ArMV)

Peony flowers showed variegation.

As a rule, diseases are rarely caused by any one virus; a mixed infection is usually recorded.

As a result of testing diseased plants, in addition to the already known viruses on peonies, others were identified. For example, on flowers with signs of variegation, bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) was found, on specimens with symptoms of leaf growth - cucumber mosaic viruses (CMV), rhizome mosaic virus (ArMV), and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). Narcissus mosaic viruses ( Narcisus mosaic virus) and tomato aspermy virus. In most cases, the complex infection included the viruses TAV, CMV, ArMV, CarMV ( Carnation mottle virus– carnation mottle virus), TMV ( Tobacco mosaic virus– tobacco mosaic) in various combinations.

Viral diseases are dangerous because they are spread by contact, with planting material, through the soil, insects and nematodes.

From fungal diseases On peony, the most widespread are gray rot, rust and various spots.

Gray rot(causative agents - Botrytis cinerea, B. paeoniae). All organs of the plant are affected - stems, leaves, buds, flowers and rhizomes (Fig. 11). Usually in the spring, immediately after the growth of young shoots, brown spots appear at their base, merging into a ring, then in this place the stems rot (a gray coating often forms here, and small black sclerotia are found on rotting tissues and in the soil) and wither, and subsequently break and fall. Later, the stems can also wither and die, but rotting occurs already 10–12 cm above the base. When leaves are damaged (usually along the edges), large brown spreading spots appear, which in dry weather gradually become necrotic, and in conditions of high humidity they become covered with a rich gray coating and rot. During the budding period, the same can be observed on buds, sepals and flowers. As a rule, small buds turn black, dry out or rot, while larger buds turn brown and bloom poorly, often only on one side, so they look one-sided. The petals turn brown and dry out, and the flower takes on an ugly shape. The disease develops very quickly, with severe damage the bushes fall apart, the stems fall and dry out. The pathogen persists on plant debris and in the rhizomes of peonies, causing them to rot, spreads during rain and is carried by ants. Cold rainy weather in spring and summer, as well as sudden changes in air temperature, contribute to the active development of the disease. The rapid course of the disease is observed on damp, heavy, clayey soils and when groundwater is close to the ground, as well as on thickened, poorly ventilated plantings. In general, the development of the disease is facilitated by high air humidity, excess nitrogen in the soil and shading of plants. Early varieties are especially affected.

In GBS, gray rot is observed on peonies every year, as a rule, on all parts of the plant. The degree of damage in some years reached 20–30%, such as in 2004 and 2010. In 2011 the strongest development Botrytis cinerea observed only on leaves and buds.

Rust (Cronartium flaccidum). This disease is more common in the northern regions and central Russia, in the Urals and Siberia, Moldova, and is especially dangerous in Ukraine, including Crimea, where epiphytoties occur in some years. The first signs of the disease are usually observed in mid-summer, soon after flowering (in the Moscow region in the 1st half of July). Brown, yellowish-brown or brown with a purple tint spots appear on the upper side of the leaves, sometimes surrounded by a brown border. On the lower side, small yellowish-brown or orange pads of uredopustules are formed, containing fungal spores, which are easily carried by the wind, infecting new plants. At the end of summer, yellowish-brown, horn-like curved columns of telytospores appear among the uredospore pads, completely covering spots on the underside of the leaves, which curl and dry out. Under favorable conditions, the disease can spread in 2–3 days, affecting peonies over large areas.

In autumn, telytospores germinate into a basidium with basidiospores and infect Scots pine ( Pinus silvestris) and s. Crimean ( P. pallasiana) – intermediate hosts of the fungus, which can be a long-term source of infection (the pathogen persists on trees and overwinters as a mycelium). In spring, yellowish-red swellings appear on the bark of trunks and branches (the aecidial stage of the fungus), which subsequently burst through. Affected branches thicken, bend and gradually die. In mid-summer, aecidiospores land on peony leaves and infect them. Later, telytospores are formed, which overwinter on the fallen leaves of these plants.

The development of the disease is favored by humid, warm weather. Under such conditions, the pathogen spreads intensively, causing the leaves to dry out already in July and shortening the growing season, which weakens the plants and negatively affects winter hardiness and flowering the following year.

Peonies vary significantly in their resistance to rust.

Thus, in the GBS collection the following varieties are most affected: 'Albatre', 'Duchesse de Nemours', 'Graziella', 'Feather Top', 'Marcella', 'Cornelia Shaylor', 'Advance', 'Livingstone', 'Marechal Mac -Mahon'.

Moderately susceptible cultivars include ‘Akron’, ‘Argentine’, ‘Iceberg’, ‘Blush Queen’, ‘Dr. F.G. Brethour', 'Enchantress', 'Florence Nicholls', 'Felix Supreme', 'Gladis Hodson', 'Inspecteur Lavergne', 'Lady Kate', 'Le Cygne', 'Mother's Choice', 'Nick Shaylor', 'Primever' , 'Torch Song'.

Most varieties of domestic selection are resistant to rust or are affected only to a small extent (‘Arkady Gaidar’, ‘White Sail’, ‘Varenka’, etc.); Among the cultivars of foreign selection, ‘Sarah Bernhard’, ‘Festiva Maxima’, ‘Felix Crousse’, ‘A.E.’ can be considered resistant. Kunderd', 'Omalia Olson', 'Bowl of Cream', 'Judy Becker', 'Dixie', 'Dandy Dan', 'Evangeline Newhall', 'The Fleece' and others.

Cladosporiosis, or brown spot (Cladosporium paeoniae, rice. 12). The disease usually manifests itself in the first half of summer, is found in the southern part of Russia, and is widespread in Ukraine. Large brown, brown or dark purple spots form on the leaves, which gradually grow, merge and can cover the entire blade. Over time, the spots darken and the leaves look burnt; in humid weather, a dark gray, smoky coating of sporulation of the fungus appears on their underside. Sometimes stems, buds and flowers are affected. Elongated reddish-brown spots usually form on young shoots, then the stem darkens and becomes covered with a smoky coating, the buds turn brown, and the petals fall off. Conidia of the fungus overwinter on fallen leaves.

Phyllosticosis(Phyllosticta paeoniae). This disease causes the greatest harm in the steppe zone of Russia and Ukraine. Small brown spots with a dark purple rim form on the lower leaves. Over time, they increase in size, acquire a round or oblong shape, lighten in the center and become covered with convex dark dots - fungal pycnidia, which are immersed in the leaf tissue. Such areas usually fall out, leading to rupture of the leaf surface. With severe development of the disease, premature drying of the leaves occurs, which in turn shortens the growing season and weakens the plants. Pycnidia overwinter on plant debris, which become a source of infection in the spring. The spores land on young leaves, germinate and infect peonies; the peak incidence occurs during the flowering period.

Septoria or brown spot (Septoria macrospora).

Leaves and stems are affected. The first signs of the disease appear in June-July on the leaves: brown and yellowish-brown rounded or elongated spots with a lighter center and a dark purple border form on both sides. Gradually, the spots merge and acquire a light brown color with an ash-gray tint. In mid-summer, pycnidia appear on them - sporulation of the fungus. The disease first appears on the lower leaves, then spreads higher up the stem. With severe damage, the leaves dry out completely, but may not fall off for a long time. The disease weakens the plants and adversely affects the winter hardiness and flowering of peonies next year. Pycnidia overwinter on fallen leaves.

In addition to the described spots, ramulariasis occurs ( Ramularia paeoniae), Alternaria ( Alternaria tenuissima) and ascochyta blight ( Ascochyta paeoniae), the latter disease is widespread mainly in the north-west of Russia.

In general, spotting causes premature death of leaves and shoots. Their development is favored by high humidity and temperature. The infection persists on plant debris. On private plots of the Moscow region and plantings of GBS peonies, spots are observed annually in the second half of the growing season.

Mealydew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea f. paeoniae, Erysiphe communis f. paeoniae). On peonies, the disease has a local spread and occurs occasionally. Plants are usually affected at the end of the growing season. A white powdery coating appears on the upper side of the leaves, consisting of mycelium and conidiophores with conidia. Sporulation is marsupial: brown cleistocarps are located mainly on the underside of the leaf and overwinter on plant debris. Sometimes the leaves become deformed and dry out.

Root rot. The causative agents may be fungi of the genus Fusarium, Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, which reduce the intensity of flowering, cause rotting of roots, stems, cuttings and death of plants. The disease is widespread and is usually detected when a bush is replanted or propagated by division. Affected areas of roots and rhizomes turn brown, soften, rot and die. With high humidity, a whitish, grayish or pinkish coating forms (mycelium and fungal spores). The source of infection is soil and infected rhizomes. Usually weakened plants, cuttings and bushes separated during transplantation become ill. The development of the disease is promoted by high humidity and high acidity of the soil.

In the GBS, root rot is recorded annually in the peony collection. Significant damage was observed in 2008-2011, which was largely due to weather conditions favorable for the development of rot, but not favorable for the growth of the plants themselves.

COMBAT MEASURES. Much attention should be paid to preventive and precautionary measures. First of all, it is necessary to use only healthy, high-quality planting material, which must be purchased from specialized institutions with the appropriate certificate. It is important to follow optimal agricultural practices and create favorable conditions for the growth and development of peonies.

About the agricultural technology of peonies - in the article How to feed peonies

It is recommended to grow this crop on well-lit, fertile soils; thickening of plantings should not be allowed; weeding and loosening of the soil should be carried out regularly, and if groundwater is close to the ground, good drainage is needed. During the growing season, it is necessary to remove and destroy bushes infected with viruses, as well as weeds that can be sources of infection. When caring for plants, use only clean tools. They must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate immediately after cutting flowers or diseased shoots or stems. Preventive treatments with insecticides against aphids and other insects that can carry viruses are necessary.

About protective equipment - in the section Preparations for diseases and pests

Gray rot. Diseased shoots are cut out to the rhizome, and in the fall, all stems must be cut low, and plant debris is also removed and burned. In the spring, remove the cover (peat, foliage, etc.) as early as possible so that the soil is dry and ventilated. If the plants are severely affected, then the top layer of the substrate is removed by 2–3 cm and fresh soil mixed with sand is added. In the spring, when young shoots are heavily infected, to destroy the infection in the soil, peony bushes and the ground around them are treated using the preparations zineb (0.5%), foundationol (0.2%), copper oxychloride (0.5–0.7%) or Bordeaux mixture (1–2%). Take 2–3 liters of a solution of one or another drug per plant.

In early spring, at the beginning of shoot growth, to combat gray mold, carry out the first spraying, then, if necessary, on growing shoots (with an interval of 7–10 days) – a second one, using one of the following preparations: Bordeaux mixture (1–2%), foundationazole (0.2%), colloidal sulfur (0.3%); copper oxychloride (0.5–0.7%) or zineb (0.5%). Then, from the moment the leaves fully open until flowering, use Bordeaux mixture (1%), copper oxychloride (0.5%), foundationol (0.1%), pure flower (4 ml per 5 liters of water). After flowering, it is advisable to carry out another treatment. At the end of August, spraying can be repeated.

Rust. It is necessary to cut out and destroy pine branches affected by this pathogen, but the main thing is not to place peonies in close proximity to them. Preventive treatments are carried out after flowering with an interval of 7–10 days and immediately when the first signs of the disease appear. To spray plants, use solutions of the same fungicides (with the exception of pure flower and phytosporin-M) as against spotting, as well as copper-soap liquid (0.25%), colloidal sulfur (1%) and its other preparations.

Root rot. When transplanting and dividing bushes, diseased roots are removed, rotten parts of rhizomes are carefully cut out to healthy tissue and sprinkled with crushed charcoal - coal powder mixed with foundation (2:1) or sulfur (2:1). For 30 minutes, the rhizomes are disinfected in a solution of copper sulfate (1%), Maxim preparations (0.2–0.4%), foundationol (0.2%), TMTD (1%) or a mixture of foundationazole (0.2%) with TMTD (0.6%). It is advisable to water the plantings (cuttings and rhizomes should not be deeply buried) with a mixture of foundationol (0.2%) and zineb or TMTD (0.6%). During the growing season, you can use foundationazole, phytosporin-M, baktofit, alirin-B, gamair.

Spotting. Treatments are carried out in the spring and before budding: Bordeaux mixture (up to 1%), copper oxychloride (0.5%), zineb (0.5%), Abiga-Peak (0.4–0.5%), pure flower (4 ml per 5 liters of water) or phytosporin-M (6 ml per 10 liters of water).

In the fight against septoria, the first spraying is carried out immediately after flowering, then, if necessary, every 10–12 days. The same medications are used as for other spots, as well as gamair (2 tablets per 1 liter of water).

Powdery mildew. When the first signs appear during the growing season, the plants are sprayed at intervals of 10–14 days, using foundationazole (0.2%), topaz (0.05–0.1%), topsin-M (0.1–0.2%) , pure flower (4 ml per 5 l of water), solution of soda ash with soap or copper-soap liquid, phytosporin-M (6 ml per 10 l of water or 2 g per 10 l), bactofit (0.7% or 10 g per 10 l), Alirin-B (2 tablets per 1 l).

To protect against a complex of fungal diseases in the fall after leaf fall (September–October), it is necessary to carry out eradication treatments with copper sulfate (3–4%) or Bordeaux mixture (2–3%). This technique subsequently allows you to reduce the number of sprayings during the growing season. In general, to increase the resistance of peony plants to various diseases, it is recommended to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and microelements, and when using a complete mineral fertilizer, eliminate excess nitrogen. The drugs must be alternated.

Literature

1. Prutenskaya M.D. Atlas of diseases of flower and ornamental plants. – Kyiv: “Naukova Dumka”, 1982. – 158 p.

2. Sinadsky Yu.V. and others. Pests and diseases of flower and ornamental plants. – M.: “Science”, 1982. – 591 p.

3. Sinadsky Yu.V. and others. Diseases and pests of introduced plants. – M.: “Science”, 1990. – 272 p.

4. Cardin L., Onesto J.P., Moury B. First report of Cucumber mosaic virus in Paeonia lactifera in France. Plant Disease, 2010. – V. 94. – N 6. – P. 790.

5. Samuitiene M., Navalinskiene M., Dapkuniene S. Investigation of Tobacco rattle virus infection in peonies (Paeonia L.). Scientific works of the Lithuanian institute of horticulture and Lithuanian university of agriculture. Sodininkyste ir darzininkyste, 2009. – 28 (3). – P. 199-208.

Magazine "Floriculture" No. 5-2012

Peonies delight with their bright blooms in spring. In the Celestial Empire, where the flower comes from, the plant is cultivated as a medicinal plant and used in landscape design. It is believed that peony protects against evil spirits and has magical qualities. The light-loving plant is easy to care for, but it is important to monitor its health.

Peony diseases

Peonies are often susceptible to viral or fungal phytodiseases.

Common infections caused by fungus include:

• rust;
• gray rot;
• types of spots.

Ring mosaic of foliage belongs to viral pathologies.

Just a note. Flower crops are usually infected with several viruses, which makes therapy difficult.

Among the harmful insects that like peony are:

• ants;
• caterpillars;
• bronze medal

Reasons

High air humidity provokes fungal diseases of peonies. Infection of peonies with gray rot occurs during unfavorable weather during the spring and summer seasons. Humidity and heat cause rust. Excess nitrogen and dense plantings increase the risk of fungus.

Peony diseases

Meteorological conditions do not have a special role in the growth of viral diseases.

It is generated by:

Gray rot is a dangerous fungal disease that completely affects the flower. They are discovered early on by limp young branches in early spring. Later, the formation of a gray coating on various organs of the crop and brownish spots on peonies around the peduncle in the root collar area are added to the symptoms.

Symptoms of diseases

Rust on peonies is recognized by brown or reddish spots on the foliage, which consist of fungal spores. Powdery mildew is indicated by a white coating at the top of the leaf blade of adult individuals.

Note! Viral diseases appear as spots, light stripes, and necrotic inclusions.

Treatment

It is important to start treatment of infected plants in a timely manner. Rust is dangerous because fungal spores are spread by wind movement and cause infection of other crops. Timely removal and elimination of diseased foliage and spraying of bushes with 1% Bordeaux mixture are appreciated. The liquid is used to spray peonies in the spring to prevent infection with gray mold. For prevention, they fight against ants that carry the disease. If an infected area is found on the bush, it is immediately cut out and destroyed, the peony is sprayed with a Thiram suspension (0.6%).

Powdery mildew is prevented by spraying plants with a solution of sodium carbonate (0.5%). Peonies are treated twice, observing a 10-day break between procedures. Figon's solution (0.2%) is effective in the fight against powdery mildew.

Spraying peonies

Diseases for which viruses are responsible cannot be cured. Affected peonies or areas are removed from the flower bed and destroyed. In such a situation, the main method of combating is prevention. During the growing season, it is necessary to pull out weeds in the front garden - a hotbed of infection. It is necessary to keep garden tools clean: be sure to disinfect them with a solution of potassium permanganate after pruning diseased flowers.

It is important to remember about pests that cause the development of viral pathologies. Therefore, they take timely preventive measures and treat plants with pesticides.

Peony diseases

Like garden plants, peonies get sick. Sometimes plant diseases have a viral or fungal origin. It is important for flower growers to understand peony diseases and their treatment, especially when leaves curl.

Watching the video will allow amateur flower growers to understand the causes of peony ailments and take adequate measures to heal them.

Gray rot

The development of gray rot usually occurs at the end of spring. As the disease progresses, the foliage loses its freshness and mold appears everywhere.

Gray rot on peonies

Manifestations

• brown spots on peony leaves, wilting and drying of plants;
• the appearance of a grayish coating on dark spots in warm and humid conditions;
• acquisition of a black coating at the bottom of the stem and its breaking and falling;
• rotting of buds, flowers, shoots.

Reasons

• distribution of fungal spores among flowers;
• excessive humidity, shaded plantings, poor ventilation;
• excess nitrogen fertilizing.

The disease threatens the entire plant: branches, leaves, and buds become infected. A sick flower sneezes and dies. Wet weather causes the rapid spread of gray rot.

Treatment

The affected areas are immediately cut out and destroyed. When the spring season begins, the bush is treated with 1% Bordeaux mixture.

Bordeaux mixture

Ways to preserve flower health include prevention:

• select varieties for cultivation that are not susceptible to harmful microorganisms;
• planted in a lighted flower bed with permeable and loose soil away from trees and shrubs;
• when planting, check the roots and remove rotten roots with a sharp disinfected device, lubricate the wounds with brilliant green or sprinkle with charcoal;
• warm up the root system of peonies for 10-12 minutes in water heated to +60..+70 ºC, dry, then plant in holes, first sprinkling with ash;
• Avoid adding nitrogen after the plant has flowered;
• carry out short pruning of peony shoots for the winter;
• periodically loosen the soil.

In the fight against peony rot they resort to fungicides:

• Soon and Pure Flower;
• Mikosan and Maxim;
• Vectra and Planrizu.

Rust

If the leaves on the peony turn red and plaque appears, the plant is suffering from rust.

Rust

Manifestations

• leaf damage: the formation of brown uneven spots, and on the underside of the leaf - pads with fungal spores;
• redness of leaves;
• Premature bushes turn yellow and dry out;
• do not winter well;
• grow weakly the following year.

If measures are not taken, rapid transmission of the disease to other crops occurs. As peonies fade, the disease progresses. Fungi of this type have increased cold resistance. With the arrival of spring, rust doubles its activity and can destroy an entire flower garden.

Reasons

The rust fungus is responsible for why peony leaves turn red. It develops in mid-summer on a pine tree, where it remains on its legs and overwinters.

As peonies fade, the disease progresses.

Treatment

It is useful for summer residents to know why peony leaves appear red and what to do in this case. The following measures are taken:

• remove affected leaves;
• collect and burn vegetation waste;
• dig the soil deeply;
• early in the spring, when shoots appear, remove the top 2-3 cm layer of soil and add fresh soil, which is mixed with sand;
• spray with a solution of ammonia or tar soap: 3 tbsp per 10 liters of liquid. l. means.

If the disease becomes active, use fungicides:

• Bordeaux mixture, which is prepared from 10 liters of water with the addition of 100 g of lime and copper sulfate;
• colloidal sulfur (100 g of preparation per 10 liters of water);
• copper oxychloride (40 g per 10-liter bucket).

Copper oxychloride

Curling leaves

Peony bushes react sharply to watering. Lack of moisture or excess has a negative impact on the crop: the leaves of the plant may curl, or root rot may develop.

Reasons

• insufficient lighting;
• potassium deficiency in the soil or soil voids;
• damage to roots by harmful insects;
• exposure to viruses and fungi.

Curling leaves

Treatment

Sometimes it is difficult to figure out why peony leaves suddenly curl and what to do. If the foliage curls in the absence of damage or stains, the reason lies in improper care of the plant. You should not use chemicals, just correct the care of the peony.

If the peony leaves are curled and the rhizome turns black as a result of the disease, That:

• when replanting bushes in September, diseased roots are removed and rotten sections of roots are carefully cut off;
• sprinkle the cut areas with coal powder, which is mixed with Fundazol or sulfur in a 2:1 ratio;
• carry out a 30-minute sanitary treatment of the root system using chemicals: 1% copper sulfate, 1% TMTD, 2% Fundazol or a mixture of 0.6% TMTD and 0.2% Fundazol;
• when planting, they try not to deepen the rhizomes and cuttings too much, pouring a mixture of Zineb and Fundazol or TMTD;
• during the growing season, Fitosporin-M and Alirin-B, Gamair and Aktofit are used.

Pests of peonies and their control

When peonies are left unattended, the bushes become infected with harmful insects. The photos will help determine how to combat pests and improve the health of peonies.

Bronze beetles

Bronze beetle on peony

What to do

To get rid of bronzes you need:

Pests are characterized by predominant damage to plant roots. Nematodes are recognized by the nodular swellings where small worms are located.

What to do

• eliminate and burn infected peonies;
• disinfect the soil with Formaldehyde (1%);
• carefully select planting material;
• dig the ground deeply before planting flower bushes;
• dispose of vegetation residues when cleaning the garden plot.

Root-knot nematodes

Turf ant

Harmful insects with a yellowish-reddish body will definitely appear on peonies due to the sweet syrup, which attracts ants. Pests gnaw off the edges of the petals along with the leaves.

What to do

To combat ants, flower crops and the soil around the bush are sprayed with repellents.

Turf ant on a peony

Summer residents practice spraying decoctions of aromatic crops:

• wormwood and tansy;
• mint and lavender;
• bay leaf and anise;
• pine needles and parsley.

Treatment of peonies in spring against diseases and pests

For the purpose of prevention, with the arrival of spring, a comprehensive series of measures are carried out, which are aimed at protecting against pests and phytodiseases.

0.1% Topaz;

0.2% Fundazol;

0.5-0.7% copper oxychloride.

To spray one plant, use 2-3 liters of solution.

Just a note. After the snow melts, many gardeners water the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, using 1-2 g per 5-6 liters near the peony to protect against fungal infection.

Folk remedies

The recipe with celandine is popular among folk remedies. To prepare, you will need 0.5 kg of fresh herbs, which is placed in 5 liters of boiling water and infused for 2 hours. Sick peonies are sprayed with filtered tincture, the procedure is repeated at intervals of 5 days.

Celandine for the treatment of peonies

If necessary, spraying with antifungal drugs is carried out every 10 days until the symptoms of the disease disappear.

Biological drugs

Biological products are distinguished by their productivity in the battle against peony phytodiseases:

• treats rust Extrasol-55;
• protects against gray rot Glyokladin;
• fights rust, ring leaf mosaic, gray rot Alirin-B.

The drug "Glyokladin"

Prevention of diseases and pests of peonies

To prevent peony phytodiseases, it is recommended to adhere to preventive measures:

• follow the agrotechnical rules of watering and loosening, fertilizing and weeding;
• use healthy seedlings for planting;
• purchase varieties of peonies that are resistant to diseases;
• treat bushes 3 times with chemicals per season;
• keeping garden equipment clean.

Peonies are not particularly demanding in care, which is why many home garden owners prefer these flowers for their decorative properties. However, sometimes plants are affected by harmful insects and diseases. In the fight against pests, flower growers will be helped by a description of the symptoms of diseases, as well as the means used that will solve the problem and make the flower garden even more beautiful.

How much grief wilted flowers bring. This short guide will hopefully help you recognize the disease and cope with the infection.

Gray rot, or botrytis, affects the stems, leaves, buds and flowers of peony. Young shoots growing in spring are especially damaged.

The disease manifests itself as a sudden withering of young peony shoots, which break at the base and fall. Near the surface of the soil, the stem turns brown-black and rots. Later, the stems may also wither and die, and rot from the base of the stem rises up to 10 cm. Large, brown, spreading spots appear at the tips of the leaves.

Peony leaves become deformed and dry out. Small buds turn black and also dry out. Larger buds, when affected, stop growing, acquiring a brown tint; sometimes flowers bloom only on one side. When infection penetrates into the roots, they begin to rot. The development of the disease is facilitated by cold, rainy spring and summer, and sudden changes in temperature.

The disease develops more intensely if peonies are planted on heavy clay soils and in areas with close groundwater, on plants covered in the fall to protect them from winter frosts with manure or not opened in time, on thickened, poorly ventilated plantings.

Measures to combat gray mold. Diseased parts are destroyed as they appear. In autumn, peony stems are cut and burned. Two sprayings are carried out: at the beginning of the growing season (buds appear above the ground) and after 10-12 days, at the same time thoroughly moisten both the peony bush and the soil under it with a 0.6-0.7% solution of copper oxychloride or 1% Bordeaux liquid. Consumption: 2-3 liters per bush.

Brown spot, or septoria. The disease appears on peony leaves in June in the form of bilateral brown-brown, round or elongated spots with a darker rim. At first, the spots are single, scattered, then they merge and change color to brown with an ash-gray tint.

First, the lower, older leaves are affected, then the disease spreads higher up the stem, and with severe damage, the leaves dry out completely, but do not fall off for a long time. Septoria blight has an adverse effect on the flowering of peonies and, by weakening the plants, on their winter hardiness. The development of the disease is favored by rainy and cool weather in spring and summer. Measures to combat septoria are the same as for gray mold.

Rust. In mid-summer, rusty spots of various sizes and shapes appear on the upper side of the leaves. On the underside of the spots, small yellowish-brown pads of fungal spores form. Affected leaves curl and dry out.

The intermediate host of this disease is Scots pine. In humid, warm weather, rust is especially rampant, causing leaves to dry out as early as July, weakening plants and negatively affecting winter hardiness and flowering next year.

Rust control measures. During the growing season, peonies are regularly fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. When the first sign of the disease appears, the affected leaves are removed from the plant and the plant is sprayed at intervals of 10-14 days (alternately) with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture and a 0.5% solution of copper oxychloride. In autumn, stems with leaves are cut and burned.

Brown leaf spot. In the first half of summer, large brown spots appear on peony leaves, which gradually grow, merge and often cover the entire leaf. Gradually, the spots darken, become dark brown, and the leaves look as if they were burned. Sometimes stems, buds and flowers are affected.

Elongated reddish-brown spots form on young shoots. The entire stem darkens and becomes covered with smoky sporulation of the fungus. The buds turn brown, the petals fall off and fall on the leaves, causing them to become infected. In humid weather, a smoky, velvety coating forms on the underside of the leaves in the center of the spots.

Measures to combat brown spot. In autumn, peony stems are cut and burned. When the first signs of the disease appear, the plants are sprayed with copper preparations.

Ring mosaic of leaves. On peony leaves, rings and half-rings appear between the veins that are lighter than the normal color of the leaf. The leaves create a characteristic blurred marble pattern. By the end of the growing season, these marble spots become necrotic. The disease spreads during vegetative propagation of peony.

Measures to combat peony ring mosaic. It makes sense to destroy diseased peony bushes only if single plants are infected by the virus, since this virus only affects peonies, in general, without weakening them too much and without affecting other crops. A well-groomed, properly grown peony to some extent fights the disease itself, at least it can drive it into a latent (hidden) form. They fight against root-knot nematodes.

Powdery mildew. Peonies are affected by it in late summer. A rare cobweb coating forms on the upper part of the leaves. Fortunately, this disease on peonies does not cause much harm and does not occur too often.

Measures to combat powdery mildew. It is possible to spray plants when the first signs of disease appear with a solution of soda ash and soap.

Phyllosticosis. Initially, small brown spots with a dark purple rim form on the peony leaves. Later, the spots increase in size, become round or oblong, become lighter in the center and become covered with numerous convex dark dots. When the disease develops strongly, it causes premature drying of the leaves. Control measures are the same as for gray mold.

Root rot. The disease is detected during transplantation or when peony is propagated by dividing the bush. The roots and rhizomes of diseased plants turn brown, rot and die. A whitish, grayish or pinkish coating forms on the surface of rotten roots in conditions of high humidity. The source of infection is the soil, as well as diseased rhizomes.

Control measures. When dividing the bushes, rotten roots are carefully cut out to healthy tissue; the rhizome is disinfected for half an hour in a 1% solution of copper sulfate before planting. The cut areas are rubbed with crushed charcoal.

Peonies are the undisputed kings of the garden. The beauty and aroma of their gorgeous flowers set the tone for the whole summer. These flowers bring a lot of joy, especially if you cope with the problems that arise with them. Using the example of users of our portal, we will look at the diseases and subtleties of agricultural technology of these plants and understand what to do with them.

Insufficient feeding

A rare story, but still found on FORUMHOUSE: small buds appear on peony bushes that never bloom.

According to experienced users of our portal, who have been raising pythons for many years, this is most likely due to insufficient feeding. Until three years of age, caring for peonies comes down to loosening and watering; after that, the plants need to be fed. Typically, peonies are “fed” with mineral fertilizers three times: in early spring, during budding and after flowering, about a week later. But on an excursion to the botanical garden of Moscow State University, FORUMHOUSE user MiLeDi They said that they feed him five times. For feeding, complex fertilizers are used - Kemira or Fertik. And in the fall, experts recommend mulching peonies with compost; this gives very good results.

Root rot

But root rot is a common, even ubiquitous disease of peonies. The roots begin to rot even in peonies, which are cared for by the most experienced flower growers. This can manifest itself in different ways. Here's how it was Laura495: first the tips of the leaves darkened, then quickly, literally within a week, the whole bush dried out. Little by little the plant came to life and even bloomed sluggishly, but then the same story repeated itself.

The collective intelligence of our portal diagnosed root rot in Laura’s peonies. In this case, it is better to wait until the end of August or beginning of September, dig up and inspect the roots. Clean the rotten areas with a sharp instrument until they reach healthy tissue and soak in the Maxima solution. Sprinkle damaged areas with ash mixed with foundation in a ratio of 2:1. If the bush is old, you can, by the way, divide it. Then plant in open ground, not excessively wet and non-acidic. Plant, observing all the conditions: in a large hole, at least 60x60 cm, into which about two buckets of a mixture of compost and humus, 300 grams of ash and 300 grams of bone meal are poured. If the soil is clayey, you will need to add sand, and if it is acidic, you will need to add lime. The rhizome should be buried by 4-5 cm.

Gray rot

Gray rot is the nastiest and most common disease of peonies, the nightmare of any gardener. It affects all parts of the plant, from rhizomes to flowers. Usually early varieties of peonies are affected, but others are not immune: as soon as the shoots grow, ring spots appear on them, at the very base, then the stem rots in this place, breaks and falls. The stems may not die in spring, but then the rings form higher, 10-15 cm from the base. The leaves become covered with brown spots, the flowers become ugly and dry out. The disease develops very quickly.

This is what peonies look like Tatham, which she shared last year.

IgorM.

Ring mosaic

Here are the other peonies Tatham. See that marble pattern? This is a ring mosaic, a disease of peonies, common in many regions of the Non-Black Earth Region.

This disease is fought mainly with preventive measures: you need to choose healthy planting material. Particularly valuable rhizomes are kept in warm water for about 20 minutes. If the lesion is not too severe, it is recommended to cut it out to the root and stimulate the peony’s immune system with feeding and immunostimulants. For all operations with a diseased plant, a separate tool is used! If the peony variety is not particularly valuable or the damage is too severe, the bush can be completely destroyed.

Rust

As a rule, peonies begin to suffer from rust soon after flowering. Spots appear on the leaves, leaves curl and dry out. The disease is very contagious and can affect all the peonies in the area in a few days. We can see what rusty leaves look like using the example of peonies from a user of our portal Zimorodok:

Dark spots appeared on one peony; I immediately cut off the stems with such leaves. The rest of the bushes are still in excellent condition.

In general, cutting the stems was not necessary. The roots need nutrition, and it was enough to remove and burn the affected leaves. And, of course, preventative treatments are necessary: ​​they are carried out two or three times, immediately after flowering. The period between treatments is 7-10 days. Peonies are sprayed with copper-soap liquid, a solution of colloidal sulfur and other low-toxic fungicides.

spotting

What is this and how to deal with it?

This is brown spotting, a common disease for peonies. Such brown-yellow-brown spots usually appear at the beginning of summer: first on the lower leaves, and then “creep” higher and higher. Diseased leaves are cut off and burned, peonies are sprayed with some remedy for fungal diseases. The problem is that spotting weakens the plant, it becomes less winter-hardy, and blooms worse next year. As in other cases, the best treatment for the disease is prevention - in the spring and during the budding period, spraying with Bordeaux mixture, phytospirin-M, etc. is carried out.

First flowering

Many people are concerned about the question of whether it is necessary to pinch out the buds of first-year peonies. It is believed that the first flowering takes away from young bushes their already weak strength; it would be better to build up the root system. Therefore, it is recommended to pinch peonies, especially in bushes that have grown from weak divisions with two or three buds. Place the bud in water, let it make you happy in the room, but in the second year there will be more buds, and in the third year the bush will bloom with a lush bouquet.

Division

There were precedents at Forumhouse when 20-year-old and even 60-year-old bushes were divided.

Why did I believe it: during the war, my mother, as a seven-year-old girl, brought a bouquet from the ruins of a manor’s estate near Kashira. And the great-grandmother said that such flowers grew in the lady’s garden. Nobody looked after them, but they bloomed even during the war!

On average, if good conditions are created during planting, peonies can grow in one place for 20-30 years. But by the age of five or six, the peony root system reaches 60-70 centimeters in diameter and extends to the same length. Therefore, dividing old peonies is a dubious pleasure. magari w I once divided 20-year-old peonies. In place of two bushes, such a crater formed that “a couple of sheep would have drowned.”

Galija he remembers his story with a 20-year-old bush like a bad dream: the rhizome went almost a meter deep, branched out like an octopus, and grew overgrown. Many of the roots were old, many were rotten. It was scary to leave such a disgrace in the ground, so we had to dig everything out completely and spill the soil with foundation. Several sections were left, cleared and processed, the rest were thrown away. The new bush bloomed the very next year. In general, there is no need to wait 10-20 years: the peony is divided and replanted when it begins to “bloom rather poorly.”

Peonies can be planted in their old place, the main thing is to pour fresh soil into the hole. And it is better to plant not large roots, but medium ones.

vitrage-service:

– If you look at the stars through a large root, then at best you can see one star. As they grow, the roots often intertwine, resulting in such a small pile. Nothing good, a lot of small flowers can grow at best.

A division of 4-7 eyes, with two to four thick roots, is considered optimal. It is better to powder the places of the cuts obtained during division with ash. By the way, cuttings without eyes also germinate - such cases are not uncommon at FORUMHOUSE.

Read how to build a diamond-shaped lattice of twigs to support peonies. Here is a heated discussion of varieties and agricultural technology of peonies, with a demonstration of photographs and a detailed description of the entire growing process.