Farms.com Home   News

Samples Of Celery Leaf Curl Disease

By Beth K. Gugino
Associate Professor Vegetable Pathology
 
Celery leaf curl is a relatively new disease of celery in Pennsylvania and the U.S. In an effort to learn more about the disease, we are interested in collecting as many samples as possible in 2015.
 
Celery Leaf Curl Disease (CLCD), also called celery anthracnose, is an emerging disease in the U.S. that was first described in Queensland, Australia back in 1981. In 2010, the disease was almost simultaneously observed in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Michigan. Since then, the Penn State Plant Disease Clinic has received CLCD samples each year. Other states that have also recently reported CLCD include CT, MA, NY, as well as, Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada.
 
 
Downward curling of leaves characteristic of celery leaf curl disease (Photo: Sara May)
 
Downward curling of leaves characteristic of celery leaf curl disease
 
Symptoms: The most common symptom of the disease is the characteristic downward curling of the leaves (leaf epinasty) which may look similar to herbicide damage. Other symptoms include petiole twisting, petiole lesions, leaf spots and the formation of adventitious roots along the petioles. Lesions on the crown or heart of the celery plants can often lead to secondary infections and rotting of this part of the plant.
 
 
Celery leaf curl disease - crown lesions
 
Crown lesions characteristic of celery leaf curl 
 
In Pennsylvania, CLCD is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum fioriniae (=Colletotrichum acutatum). Unfortunately, not much is known about the biology or how to best manage the disease. So far, research from other celery production regions has shown that all the celery cultivars evaluated were susceptible to CLCD and some fungicides applied during the season may help reduce disease incidence and/or severity. A trial is currently underway at the Russell E. Larson Research and Education Center at Rock Springs to evaluate the efficacy or select conventional and organic fungicide for disease management under PA environmental conditions and a cultivar trial is being planned for the research farm in Landisville.
 
In an effort to learn more about this disease and why is seems to have suddenly appeared in the U.S. several years ago and stayed, we are interested in collecting as many samples as possible. If you suspect that you may have CLCD please contact and send a sample to Sara May.
 

Trending Video

No-Till vs Strip-Till

Video: No-Till vs Strip-Till

Farm Basics from Ag PhD Episode #1351 | Air Date 2/25/24 - Less tillage has many advantages. The Hefty brothers compare two ways to reduce erosion, save organic matter, and conserve moisture in your soils.