How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of Verticillium wilt include wilting, chlorosis, and stunting of plants. Leaves often have a marginal necrosis. Vascular discoloration, which is characteristic of this disease on other hosts, may not be always present in artichoke plants. Diseased plants produce smaller buds, and in severe cases, buds become discolored and dried, and the plant collapses. Roots exhibit the characteristic vascular discoloration of this disease.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

Infected artichoke plants may not exhibit any symptoms of disease. It is possible that only stressed plants will show indications of infection by this pathogen. In severe cases, yields can be reduced by as much as 50%. Verticillium dahliae produces microsclerotia that can survive for many years in the soil without host plants present.

MANAGEMENT

Practice proper cultural practices in order to avoid stressing plants. Do not take crowns to be used for propagation from fields where the disease has occurred. Do not plant annual artichokes in fields with a history of V. dahliae. Rotate Verticillium-infected fields into broccoli. All annual artichoke varieties have been found to be more susceptible to V. dahliae than the perennial Green Globe variety.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Artichoke
UC ANR Publication 3434
Diseases
S. T. Koike, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County
Acknowledgment for contributions to the disease section:
S. Colbert, Griffin Corp., Valdosta, GA

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