Description of diseases and pests of dill, treatment and control of them

Dill is an unpretentious agricultural crop and does not require special growing conditions. At the same time, there is a risk of the plant being damaged by rot and dangerous insects. To prevent a reduction in yield, you should learn more about dill diseases and ways to combat them.

Why does dill turn yellow, red, or gray?

When growing dill, gardeners often encounter the fact that the greens begin to change color. When wondering what to do when dill turns yellow, you need to find out the exact reason. A change in color can occur due to improper watering - greens do not tolerate excess moisture or, conversely, dry soil. Uneven planting may also be the cause. It is recommended to leave a distance of about 2 cm between seedlings so that the root systems do not intertwine with each other. In case of dense planting, the first shoots must be removed immediately to maintain spatial isolation.

The reasons why dill turns red most often lie in increased soil acidity, when phosphorus in the soil becomes insoluble. Under such conditions, the roots of the seedlings do not receive nutrients and the leaves acquire a red tint.

When green leaves turn gray, the likely problem lies in a viral disease. In this case, it is better to immediately destroy the affected specimens to prevent the spread of the disease. One of the visible symptoms, in addition to the graying of the leaves, is the formation of wet rot at the very base.

Dill diseases

Each disease characteristic of dill has individual symptoms, causes and consequences. A significant part of diseases can be detected during external inspection of the crop.

Downy mildew

The risk of developing peronosporosis in plants is highest in constant humid weather and temperatures of about 20 degrees. The disease affects the upper part of the seedlings and as the infection spreads, the surface of the leaves becomes yellow or brown. A visible white coating appears on the reverse side of the foliage. Over time, the sprouts dry out completely and die.

The cause of downy mildew is a large amount of weeds and the remains of unharvested crops in the soil. There is also a possibility of infection spreading through seeds. To prevent downy mildew, you need to periodically visually inspect the beds and remove weeds in a timely manner.

Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew, a disease common to many vegetable crops, can also affect any variety of dill. In closed ground, the infectious agent occurs in greenhouses where there are weeds, and in open soil, powdery mildew occurs due to moist air. A feature of the disease is a white coating, similar to a cobweb, consisting of the mycelium of the pest fungus. At first, only the foliage turns white under the film, after which spots appear on the stems of the plant. The consequences of powdery mildew include loss of aromatic and taste characteristics.

Fomoz

Phomasis disease is characterized by blackening of dill. The manifestation of infection can be detected on early shoots or in the second half of the summer on rooted bushes. The infection affects all tissues and progresses on the affected plant for no more than 2 weeks. Spores of the pest fungus are spread by the wind, through insects or parts of dead seedlings remaining in the ground. The main danger of Phoma is that the affected seedlings themselves become a source of infection.

Verticillium wilt

The causative agent of Verticillium wilt is a fungus that attacks the blood vessels of the plant. In the presence of the disease, withering bushes lose the ability to receive water and nutrition, since the vascular system is blocked. Primary wilting symptoms appear in early summer, and the peak of development occurs during the period of active flowering and seed formation.The source of Verticillium wilt can be contaminated soil or the use of poorly rotted manure as fertilizer.

Cercospora

In a number of characteristics, cercospora blight is similar to phomosis and serves as a prerequisite for its development. Cercospora infection affects all above-ground parts of dill, after which black spots form at the sites where the fungus has invaded. As the spores mature, a plaque forms on the spots, causing the plants to die. The cause of the disease is infected seeds and an abundance of weeds in the beds.

Blackleg

When growing crops in a greenhouse or greenhouse, the likelihood of blackleg disease increases. Due to damage to the seeds by a fungal infection, the process of rotting of the root collar begins. The development of infection leads to blackening of the stems and further drying. The disease may progress until the leaves begin to open. In conditions of excessive humidity, the disease can destroy more than half of the crops.

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium blight manifests itself in dill discoloration and subsequent wilting. Infectious agents live in the soil and enter the tissues when the soil is not loosened enough. Risk factors for the development of the disease include excess humidity and high soil temperature.

Pests

Improper care, unfavorable soil conditions and certain climatic conditions can lead to damage to the crop by dangerous insects. Pests lead to plant death and reduced yields.

Umbrella blind people

Inconspicuous insects that eat buds and immature seeds and leave cobwebs on the leaves. Significant harm is caused only by large-scale crops.

Striped stink bug or Italian bug

The bug is bright red in color and releases a caustic secretion when in danger.The insect sucks the juice from the seeds, causing the seedlings to grow puny or die.

Aphid (lat. Aphidoidea)

A common pest that affects all crops. Small green bugs remaining on the dill suck the juice from the stems and leaves, leading to depletion.

carrot psyllid

The insect causes deformation of the leaves and leads to drying out. The psyllid can produce toxic substances that negatively affect the taste of dill.

Dill moth

Moth larvae entwine plants with webs and eat leaves. One generation of insects develops per season.

carrot fly

The pest occurs when crop rotation rules are violated. Carrot flies eat through the stems, which causes rot and over time the plant withers.

Caterpillar

Several varieties of caterpillars can attack dill. Pests chew off leaves and stems, reducing the amount of harvest.

Prevention and treatment of diseases

To prevent crop diseases, it is important to sow exclusively healthy seeds and disinfect them before planting. For sowing, you should select ventilated and brightly lit areas with fertile soil. If the disease affects dill even when suitable conditions are created, control will be required with the use of specialized fertilizers.

Top dressing against yellowing and drying of dill

Constant feeding of crops with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers will help save the crop from disease and drying. If you use compost or manure, which may contain harmful components, you should replace them with fertilizers created by the factory method.

Why does dill taste bitter?

Plaque formation due to infection or damage to dill by insects can affect the taste.Often, disruption of plant growth makes the taste bitter.