Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Narcissus diseases. Disease Symptoms Pathogen/Cause Management Basal Rot Plants are stunted and foliage dies prematurely. The few roots present are brown and the basal plate is decayed. White or pink fungal growth develops between the bulb scales. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. narcissii Do not plant bulbs that have white or pink fungus on them. Purchase and plant hot water treated bulbs. Fire Flowers are spotted, turn brown, and die. Small, tan, oval spots form near leaf tips. Leaves have bright yellow streaking near tips. Botryotinia polyblastis Discard infected plants. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. Lesion Nematode Plants are stunted and the foliage dies prematurely. Pratylenchus penetrans Purchase and plant bulbs that were treated with hot water. Discard infected plants. Scorch Reddish-brown spots with yellow halos develop on leaf tips as they emerge. The spots enlarge, merge together, and the leaves die. Spots have small brown dots (fruiting structures) within them. Stagnospora curtisii Purchase and plant bulbs that have been hot water treated. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. Stem and Bulb Nematodes Leaves from infected bulbs are small, distorted, and sometimes swollen. Infected bulbs are rotted and feel lighter than normal at planting. Ditylenchus dipsaci Purchase and plant hot water-treated bulbs. Discard infected bulbs. Viruses Leaves may have a mosaic, have yellow to white stripes or have dead tips, and die prematurely. Many viruses are known including white streak, narcissus tip necrosis, cucumber mosaic, yellow stripe, tobacco ringspot, and tomato ringspot. Discard infected plants. Maintain good insect control.

Rhizoctonia and nematodes affecting bulbs.

Prepared by Gary W. Moorman, Professor of Plant Pathology