Kerria twig and leaf blight

Since 2014 RHS Gardening Advice has received numerous reports and samples from across the UK of Kerria japonica exhibiting severe defoliation, spots on the leaves and stem lesions. Upon closer examination it was determined that the symptoms were caused by the fungus Blumeriella kerriae. This fungus has been recorded on Kerria japonica in America but had not previously been recorded on any plant in the UK. It is not known how this fungus arrived in the UK, but is now becoming widespread.

Unfortunately, the fungus appears to be very difficult to control and produces large quantities of spores on the stem lesions and leaf spots. The good news is that this fungus appears to be specific to Kerria, so other plants in the garden should not be at risk.

• On the leaves the infection starts as small red-brown spots (1-5 mm diameter) with dark purple borders and yellow haloes. Spots are visible on both leaf surfaces and sometimes number in the hundreds on a single leaf
• In wet conditions the spores of the fungus may be visible as white clusters in the centre of the spots
• As the infection progresses the spots coalesce and the leaves turn yellow through to brown and fall from the stems
• Stem lesions appear as purple-brown, slightly-sunken elliptical cankers which remain visible on the stems throughout the year. Cankers which girdle the stem result in extensive stem die-back

The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit. selection, garden hygiene

Regular cleaning and tidying not only keeps a garden looking neat, but can reduce pests and diseases too. Beneficial jobs include collecting fallen leaves, promptly removing diseased growth and debris, cleaning tools, and weeding. Still, too much tidying can discourage wildlife, so it’s a fine balance. and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner.

Non-chemical control

The disease is best managed by removing all infected plant material and either burning it or disposing of it at your local council composting

Composting is the process by which plant material is heaped together to rot (decompose) to produce compost. Garden or kitchen waste can be broken down over time in a compost bin or heap to produce crumbly organic matter that can be used as a mulch, soil conditioner and a constituent of potting compost. facility. Home compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. heaps rarely reach the temperatures achieved by large-scale facilities required to kill fungal spores. Clearing fallen leaves should help to reduce fungal inoculum in the following year.

Fungicides

The RHS recommends that you don't use fungicides. Fungicides (including organic types) may reduce biodiversity

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems. , impact soil health and have wider adverse environmental effects. If you do intend to use a fungicide, please read the information given in the link and download below to ensure that use, storage and disposal of the product is done in a responsible and legally compliant manner.

The products listed in the ‘Fungicides for gardeners’ document below are legally available for use by home gardeners in the UK. This information is provided to avoid misuse of legal products and the use of unauthorised and untested products, which potentially has more serious consequences for the environment and wildlife than when products are used legally. Homemade products are not recommended as they are unregulated and usually untested.

There is no specific information available on the efficacy of any home garden fungicide against kerria twig and leaf blight.

Download

Fungicides for gardeners (Adobe Acrobat pdf document outlining fungicides available to gardeners)

Link

Chemicals: storing and disposing safely

The cause of twig and leaf blight on Kerria japonica is the fungus Blumeriella kerriae.

The development of Kerria twig and leaf blight is likely to be favoured by wet weather conditions. In damp conditions Blumeriella kerriae produces large numbers of asexual spores from each spot/lesion. Spores are likely to be transferred between plants via rain splash, wind, and transfer on contaminated tools.

The fungus overwinters on fallen leaves and lesions on the stems then releases spores to reinfect new growth in spring. Spore production has been observed throughout the year on Kerria plants in the UK. The sexual stage of the fungus has not yet been observed to occur in the UK.