Major Diseases of Potted Flowers

Abstract

Ornamental crops have deceptively benefited humankind since very early times and the importance of ornamental crops is being recognized by every individual from birth to death. It may be cultivated for cut flowers, dry flowers, live or dried plants, bulbs, and tuber, gardening/landscaping and also used in perfume, medicines, flavouring and colouring agents. Plant diseases are a major bottleneck in flower production and the losses caused by plant pathogens in important potted flowers have been estimated to be as high as 100%. Phyto-pathogens directly reduce the production and marketability of potted flowers. In this chapter, diseases of important potted flowers viz., azalea (Rhododendron obtusum), begonias (Begonia spp.), coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are discussed with detailed emphasis given to disease aetiology, diagnostic symptoms, disease cycle and their management

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