How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

SYMPTOMS

Beet Leafhopper-Transmitted Viresence Agent. Leaves of infected plants are reddish purple. Infected plants often bolt prematurely. Flower parts are malformed; petals that would normally be white are green and the flowers proliferate to form multiple, compound, leafy umbels. Diseased plants have woody, unmarketable roots with an excessive number of lateral rootlets.

Aster Yellows Phytoplasma. Leaves of infected plants are twisted, stunted, and yellow. Leaflets may be reduced to short scales. Flower parts are severely distorted and malformed; umbels are stunted and yellow green. Most infected plants develop a dense cluster of dwarfed, chlorotic, upright, adventitious shoots. Infected plants show increased lateral rootlet development.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

The beet leafhopper transmitted viresence agent is transmitted by the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus. Aster yellows phytoplasma is transmitted by several species of leafhoppers. Both phytoplasmas have wide host ranges. The level of infection in carrot fields is dependent on the population of vectors. Disease incidence may be greater if carrots are planted near areas where weeds and other plants provide a reservoir for the phytoplasmas and their vectors.

MANAGEMENT

There are no effective controls for these diseases.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Carrot
UC ANR Publication 3438
Diseases
R. M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
F. F. Laemmlen, UC Cooperative Extension, Santa Barbara Co.
J. Nunez, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern Co.
T. A. Turini, UC Cooperative Extension, Imperial Co.
Acknowledgment for contributions to the diseases section:
B. W. Falk, Plant Pathology, UC Davis

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