Vegetables - Disease Management          Pat Donald, MU  (573) 882-2716 
                                         Om Sehgal, MU (573) 882-7060

                               KEY
                          1 = Symptoms
                           2 = Control

ASPARAGUS

Rust (fungus)   Puccinia asparagi   
   1.  Tops of plants turn yellow. Elongated orange-red,
       reddish-brown, or black pustules on stems and leaves.
       Leaves may drop off.  Plants may die prematurely. Rust
       fungus over-winters on old leaves and stems.   
   2.  All treatments for ferns only after spears are
       harvested: Dithane DF-2 lb./A, Dithane F-45 1.6 qt./A,     
       Dithane M-45 lb./A, Penncozeb 2 lb./A,
       Penncozeb DF 2 lb./A, Manzate 200 DF 2 lb./A, wettable     
       sulfur or Thiolux 10-30 lb/A.

Fusarium stem and crown rot (fungus)   Fusarium moniliforme    
   1.  Extensive stem and crown rot occurs at base of infected
       stalks. Reddish-brown discoloration of roots followed by collapse.
   2.  No resistant varieties.  Minimize plant stress.  Do not
       overcut, use moderate fertility applications (especially
       nitrogen), maintain pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Use fungicide-treated 
       seed (Thiram) and/or disease-free crowns. Manzate 200  2 lb./A.

Fusarium wilt, root rot and decline (fungus)   Fusarium oxysporum
f. sp. asparagi 
   1.  Reddish-brown vascular discoloration in lower roots and base
       of infected stalks. May have reddish-brown lesions on
       storage roots. Crowns have discolored interior tissues.
       Affected plants randomly scattered, turn yellow in mid-summer.
   2.  No resistant varieties.  Avoid stress.  Same as Fusarium stem
       and crown rot.