Professional area | Diseases factsheet | Fungi | Ramularia cyclaminicola
This is a fairly rare fungus of the vascular system, which causes cyclamen to be stunted and become wizened. It develops both in the underground and in the upper parts of the plant.
As a result of an attack, the flowers open under the foliage; the impression is of dwarfism.
Conventional fungicide treatment gives good results.
Fungi of the genus Ramularia belong to the Moniales, in the order Moniliales of the class Adelomycetes.
This is a fairly rare fungus. The disease develops especially in hot, humid weather.
Ramularia cyclaminicola is a systemic fungus. It grows on the roots, tuber, stalks, leaves and flowers. The overall appearance of the plant is scrawny and wizened, as if subject to dwarfism. Small greenish-grey patches appear on the surface of the leaves and flower-stalks, turning brown later. The leaves stay smaller than on healthy plants, and the flowers open beneath the foliage. The bulbs have chestnut-coloured patches on them.
The spores appear in humid weather, covering the patches with a powdery whitish mass.
A cross section of the tuber will sometimes reveal necrotic zones of a reddish brown (this is a disease of the vessels).
Symptoms due to Ramularia cyclaminicola infection can sometimes be mistaken for those of a physiological disease or a Phialophora cyclaminis infection.
This fungus survives on plant debris. The spores can be spread in water and on the breeze; they do not last well in dry weather. When the leaves die, tiny sclerotia (masses of resting bodies) are formed, which ensure the survival of the fungus during summer and autumn. They come to life in winter.
Destroy affected plants and use new or disinfected growing medium.
Once an attack is under way treatment must be given at 15-day intervals.
The constant development of the regulations and homologations of phytosanitary treatment products, and the differences in regulations according to each country make it impossible for us to include updated information on homologations. Each producer will have to contact his local plant protection bureau to obtain the latest updates concerning the regulations and use of phytosanitary products. We strongly advise testing beforehand on a plant sample in order to measure the chemical’s activity (establishing the dose) and any effect on the plant (plant poisoning).
This advice sheet is based on the methods used at the SCEA at Montourey (Fréjus, France). These procedures may need some modification to adapt them to other climatic situations. Before starting to grow cyclamen there needs to be a review of precautions against pests and diseases. We must point out that our advice and suggestions are offered for information purposes and therefore cannot include any guarantee of specific results; it is a good idea to carry out trials beforehand.
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