How to Kill Septoria Blight of Celery

The fungus Septoria apiicola causes a serious disease called late blight in celery, which can be destructive for farmers and home gardeners alike. Diagnose this disease early on by identifying the small, reddish-brown colored areas that appear on outside leaves, which soon progress to a black color. Additionally, small black particles, responsible for spreading the spores with rain or water, appear in the center of spots. The disease usually originates with infected seeds, but after two or more years of storage, the pathogen often dies off within seeds. Fungicide treatment can kill the disease if infection is serious, but growers should also combine cultural techniques such as reducing leaf wetness and using disease-free seed.

Fungicide (copper hydroxide, chlorothalonil, azoxystrobin, propiconazol or trifloxystrobin)

Instructions

- 1
  Spray approved fungicides for celery blight at first signs of disease. Cover the entire surface area including the lower leaves and pestiole of the plant. To avoid resistance strains, switch off between two different applications.
- 2
  Avoid wetting leaves for a long period or using overhead sprinklers. Water is a pathway for the disease to spread. Irrigate at nighttime when plants already have dew, to avoid extended periods of leaf wetness.
- 3
  Select disease-free seed to prevent the disease from persisting in an area. Seeds older than two years have a lower chance of spreading infection.
- 4
  Widen spaces between plants to improve air flow. Selecting upright varieties of celery can assist in reaching this end.
- 5
  Monitor seedling development and remove infected seedlings immediately to avoid transmitting the disease to the garden or field.
- 6
  Rotate crops for at least one year after infection. Plant different crops in the area where celery was grown and select a new location for your celery plot.

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