Common diseases of white clover and their control methods

Common diseases of white clover: club leaf disease

Symptoms

A type of disease caused by mycoplasma infection is widespread and more serious in some areas. This disease causes the leaves of the plant to become deformed, narrow and long, with uneven notches on the edges, and the plant's growth is weak, affecting its ornamental value. The disease can be transmitted through contact or insect vectors such as leafhoppers, with the peak incidence period being July to August.

Prevention and treatment methods

To prevent and control this disease, the main measures include good potting soil management, disinfection, enhancing plant disease resistance and controlling virus vectors.

Common diseases of white clover: dodder

Symptoms

The seeds of dodder are very small and can be carried by white clover seeds. After germination and growth, they form dodders and parasitize on the stems and branches of white clover, absorbing its nutrients and water, causing nutrient deficiency in white clover, yellowing of the plants, stunted growth, and even death in severe cases.

Prevention and treatment methods

Strengthen quarantine to prevent dodder from spreading through seeds. For chemical control, you can spray 1.5%~2% dinitro-o-cresol and dinitrophenol solution to prevent and control it.

Common diseases of white clover: leaf spot

Symptoms

Various spots of different shapes, sizes and colors appear on the leaves, causing the leaves to wither and fall off.

Prevention and treatment methods

The occurrence of the disease is controlled by selecting disease-free seeds, removing diseased residues, carrying out good management and maintenance, balanced fertilization, avoiding waterlogging and other measures, and fungicides such as carbendazim, methyl thiophanate (methyl thiophanate), mancozeb, etc. are sprayed for prevention and control according to the condition of the disease.

Common diseases of white clover: Sclerotinia

Symptoms

A major devastating disease that can attack the rhizomes, stem base and lower leaves. The diseased part becomes wet and rotten and turns brown, the diseased plant rots and dies, there is a white flocculent hyphae layer at the diseased part, and black spherical or irregular sclerotia are formed in the later stage. Continuous rain or excessive watering will cause a large number of diseased plants to die and many bald spots will appear on the grass.

Prevention and treatment methods

To prevent and control sclerotinia disease, we should select disease-resistant varieties, eliminate the pathogens, improve management and timely spray pesticides such as diene sclerotinia (Nonclorid), Iprodione (Iprodione), Fucyperamide (Procymidone) and Carbendazim.