Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Gypsophila diseases. Disease Symptoms Pathogen/Cause Management Alternaria Flower Blight Flowers turn black. Alternaria Apply a fungicide to protect plants. Botrytis Blight Bud scales and stems turn ash-gray and stems die. Botrytis cinerea Space plants to insure good air circulation. Maintain low humidity. Avoid watering late in the day. Remove crop debris. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. Phytophthora Crown Rot Plants wilt. Stems at the soil level have a wet rot. Plants die and are easily pulled up. Phytophthora nicotianae Plant in pasteurized soil. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. Pythium Root and Stem Rot A wet rot develops at the base of young plants. Leaves yellow, wilt and die. Pythium spp. Plant in pasteurized soil. Do not overwater or overfertilize plants. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. Rhizoctonia Stem Rot Stems rot at the soil level, split longitudinally and have a dry, shredded appearance but are not easily pulled out. Rhizoctonia solani Plant in pasteurized raised beds. Apply a fungicide to protect plants.

Prepared by Gary W. Moorman, Professor of Plant Pathology