CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

First Printing 1M, August 2003

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COMMON DISEASES OF PANSY AND VIOLA CULTIVARS IN THE LANDSCAPE
A. K. Hagan, J. R. Akridge, and M. E. Rivas-Davila

INTRODUCTION colorful winter and spring floral display as well as deep green foliage has made pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) a landscape favorite in Alabama and the rest of the South. Some of the more heat tolerant selections may bloom into June but most need to be replaced with a summer annual by early May. Although a number of destructive diseases of pansy have been identified, particularly in flat and pot-grown plants, the identity and severity of diseases in landscape plantings of pansy are not particularly well known. In Alabama, Cercospora leaf spot, which is caused by the fungus Cercospora violae, has been found in both landscape plantings as well as in pot- and flat-grown pansy in a commercial greenhouse (2). Circular spots about 1/4 inch in diameter first appear on the lowest leaves around the base of the plant. Depending on the pansy cultivar, leaf spots vary from tan to charcoal gray in color. Spotting gradually spreads upward through the leaf canopy until nearly all of the diseased leaves have withered and turned brown. Holcomb and Cox (1) have noted that selected pansy and viola cultivars vary considerably in their susceptibility to Cercospora leaf spot. Little other specific information concerning cultivar reaction or other control procedures for Cercospora leaf spot is available (2). Powdery mildew may appear on the leaves and petioles of pansy in late winter or early spring. While powdery mildew will not kill pansy, severe disease outbreaks may reduce plant vigor and may accelerate plant decline (2). The appearance of small discrete patches of white, feathery thread-like

A

Hagan is a professor and Rivas-Davila is a research associate in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Akridge is superintendent at the Brewton Agricultural Research Unit of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

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COMMON DISEASES OF PANSY AND VIOLA IN THE LANDSCAPE

hyphae and spore masses of the causal fungus Sphaerotheca fuliginea growing on the upper leaf surfaces, leaf petioles, and flower peduncle is the diagnostic feature of powdery mildew. Growth of the causal fungus may continue until the entire surface of the leaf has been colonized by the powdery mildew fungus S. fuliginea. This study was initiated to identify common diseases on pansy in the landscape, as well as to assess the susceptibility of pansy and viola cultivars to the diseases identified. METHODS In 1997, 2000, 2001, and 2002, pansy and viola cultivar reaction to diseases was evaluated at the Brewton Agricultural Research Unit in Brewton, Alabama, [USDA Zone 8a], which is located approximately 45 miles north of Pensacola, Florida. The soil type was a Benndale sandy loam with less than 1% organic matter. Approximately one week before planting, 400 or 500 pounds per acre of 13-13-13 or 5-10-15 granular fertilizer was broadcast and lightly incorporated into the beds. Flats of pansy and viola cultivars were obtained from commercial wholesale or retail outlets. (Pansy and viola cultivars screened in all four years are listed in Table 1.) Four plants of each cultivar were taken from a commercial 36- or 48-cell plug tray and transplanted on a 1-foot square in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Planting dates were October 22, 1996, November 15, 1999, November 3, 2000, and November 9, 2001. A drip irrigation system was installed immediately after planting and the plants were watered as needed. Calcium nitrate at the rate of 7 to 10 pounds per acre was applied weekly through the drip irrigation system. Also, 7 pounds of potassium nitrate were delivered through the irrigation system on February 8 and February 22, 2002. Incidence of powdery mildew and/or Cercospora leaf spot was recorded on May 20, 1997, April 13, 2000, May 9, 2001, and May 9, 2002. Cercospora leaf spot damage was rated using a modified Florida peanut leaf spot scoring system where 1 = no disease, 2 = very few leaf spots, 3 = a few leaf spots in lower and upper canopy, 4 = some leaf spots with light defoliation, 5 = noticeable spotting of the leaves with some defoliation (> 25%), 6 = spots numerous with significant defoliation (> 50%), 7 = spots numerous with extensive defoliation (> 75%), 8 = heavy spotting of the few remaining leaves, 9 = very few remaining leaves covered with spots, and 10 = plants defoliated (100%) or dead. In 1997, powdery mildew severity was visually rated on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 = no disease, 2 = 0 to 25%, 3 = 25 to 50%, 4 = 50 to 75%, and 5 = 75 to 100% of the leaves colonized. For the 2000 trial,

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

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TABLE 1. REACTION OF PANSY AND VIOLA CULTIVARS TO POWDERY MILDEW AND CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT, BREWTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH UNIT, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002
Cultivar Accord White Blotch Imperial Accord Yellow Blotch Bingo Blue with Blotch Bingo Light Rose Bingo Deep Purple Bingo White with Blotch Bingo Yellow Bingo Yellow with Blotch Bingo Red & Yellow Bingo Clear Yellow Bingo Red with Blotch Bingo Clear White Bingo Clear Azure Clear Sky Primrose Clear Sky Yellow Crown Golden Crown Blue Crown Orange Crown Cream Crown Rose Crown Purple Crown Yellow Crown Yellow Splash Crown Scarlet Crown White Crown Azure Crystal Bowl Yellow Crystal Bowl Supreme Lavender Shades Crystal Bowl Purple Crystal Bowl Supreme Scarlet Crystal Bowl Supreme Rose Crystal Bowl Supreme Yellow Crystal Bowl Supreme True Blue Crystal Bowl Supreme White Powdery mildew 1 1997 2000 — —3 — 1.8 3.0 1.0 2.0 — — — — — — — 2.0 — 2.8 3.0 1.7 2.0 2.0 2.8 3.3 1.5 3.3 2.8 — — — — — — — — — — 1.4 2.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 — — — — 4.8 — 1.4 — — 3.2 1.0 1.0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ———Cercospora leaf spot 2——— 1997 2000 2001 2002 — — 4.8 — — 4.5 5.3 5.0 5.3 — — — — — — — 5.5 — 4.8 6.0 5.5 6.0 5.8 5.8 5.7 6.8 6.0 6.0 — — — — — — — — — — 4.0 6.5 4.3 5.7 5.3 5.5 — — — — 4.7 — 5.2 — — 5.0 4.7 5.7 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 5.3 4.5 4.3 — 4.2 5.8 — 3.8 4.6 4.0 — — — — — — 4.7 — — 5.2 — — — — 5.3 4.8 5.0 4.0 — — 4.0 4.0 4.3 — 4.0 5.0 4.7 — — 4.8 3.0 4.5 — 4.5 4.3 — — 3.7 3.2 4.5 — 5.0 — — — 4.8 — — — — — 6.0 4.8 3.2 3.8 — continued

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COMMON DISEASES OF PANSY AND VIOLA IN THE LANDSCAPE

PANSY AND VIOLA CULTIVARS TO POWDERY MILDEW AND CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT, BREWTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH UNIT, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002
OF

TABLE 1,

CONTINUED.

REACTION

Powdery mildew 1 Cultivar 1997 2000 Crystal Bowl Mix — — Delta Pink Shades 1.5 1.0 Delta Blue with Blotch 3.5 — Delta Yellow with Blotch — — Delta Pure Yellow 1.5 — Delta White/Rose Wing 1.8 — Delta Red with Blotch 3.0 — Delta Pure Violet 3.0 — Delta Pure Rose 1.0 — Delta Pure Primrose 2.5 — Delta White with Blotch — — Dynamite Ocean — — Dynamite Purple — — Rose & White Dynamite Red & Yellow — — Dynamite Purple — — Dynamite Scarlet — — Dynamite Lavender — — Fama See Me — — Holloween — 1.3 Imperial Antique Shades — 1.0 Imperial Beaconsfield 4.0 3.0 Imperial Pink Shades — 1.7 Imperial Frost Rose — — Imperial Silver Blue 4.7 Majestic Giant White — 1.2 Majestic Giant Purple 3.8 2.4 Majestic Giant Blue — 2.3 Shades Majestic Giant 2.5 — Red & Yellow Majestic Giant Red — 1.7 & Rose Shades Majestic Giant Rose — — Shades Majestic Giant 2.0 2.3 Scarlet & Bronze Majestic Giant Blue 3.8 — with Blotch Majestic Giant Yellow 2.3 — with Blotch Majestic Giant White 1.5 — with Blotch

———Cercospora leaf spot 2——— 1997 2000 2001 2002 — — 4.5 — 5.5 4.0 5.2 5.5 — — — — — 5.2 6.0 — — 5.5 — — 6.5 — — 5.5 — — 6.8 — — 5.5 — — — — 5.3 — — — 4.5 — — — 4.7 — — — — — — — 5.5 — — — — 5.7 — 5.3 — — 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.3 — — — — — 5.5 5.8 3.7 5.0 — 4.5 4.8 5.4 5.5 — 5.0 — 4.8 — — — — 4.5 5.2 3.7 4.2 — 5.5 4.5 4.8 — — — 5.8 6.3 3.7 5.3 5.2 — — 5.7 4.2 3.5 — — — — — 5.7 4.7 — 5.7 4.0 4.2 4.8 5.0 — 4.5 — — — — — continued

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CONTINUED. REACTION OF PANSY AND VIOLA CULTIVARS POWDERY MILDEW AND CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT, BREWTON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH UNIT, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 TO

TABLE 1,

Powdery mildew 1 ———Cercospora leaf spot 2——— Cultivar 1997 2000 1997 2000 2001 2002 Majestic Giant Yellow — — — — 4.4 3.7 Maxim Marina — 3.8 — 5.0 — — Maxim Orange 1.3 1.8 5.5 5.7 — — Maxim Red & Yellow — 1.5 — 3.8 — — Maxim Sherbet 1.8 1.7 4.0 4.2 3.2 4.2 Maxim Sunset — 1.0 — 5.0 4.2 4.0 Maxim Supreme Rose — — — — 4.0 — Maxim Yellow & Blue 2.8 2.3 5.5 4.5 — — Melody Purple & Orange — 1.2 — 5.3 — — Penny Azure Viola — — — — — 5.2 Penny White Viola — — — — — 4.8 Penny Citrus Mix Viola — — — — — 4.7 Penny Blue Viola — 1.0 — 6.0 — — Penny Mix Viola — 1.0 — 4.0 5.3 — Penny Yellow Viola — 1.2 — 3.0 5.2 4.3 Penny Violet Flare — — — — 4.8 — Purple Rain — 1.0 — 4.5 — 5.5 Skyline Blue 2.0 — 4.8 — — — Sorbet Plum Violet — 2.0 — 4.3 — — Sorbet Blackberry — — — — — 3.8 Cream Viola Sorbet Sunny Royal Viola — — — — — 5.5 Trick or Treat — 2.0 — 5.8 — — Ultima Beacon Bronze — — — — — 5.3 Ultima Morpho — — — — — 4.5 Ultima Silhouette Mix — 1.8 — 5.2 4.3 — 1 In 1997, powdery mildew incidence was visually rated on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 = no disease, and 5 = 80 to 100% of the leaves colonized. Two years later, the incidence of this disease was assessed on a 1 to 12 scale where 1 = no disease, 2 = 0 to 3%, 3 = 3 to 6%, 4 = 6 to 12%, 5 = 12 to 25%, 6 = 25 to 50%, 7 = 50 to 75%, 8 = 75 to 87%, 9 = 87 to 94%, 10 = 94 to 97%, 11 = 97 to 100%, 12 = 100% of the leaves colonized by S. fuliginea. 2 Cercospora leaf spot damage was rated using a scoring system where 1 = no disease, 2 = very few leaf spots, 3 = a few leaf spots in lower and upper canopy, 4 = some leaf spots with light defoliation (< 10%), 5 = noticeable spotting of the leaves with some defoliation (< 25%), 6 = spots numerous with significant defoliation (< 50%), 7 = spots numerous with extensive defoliation (< 75%), 8 = heavy spotting of the few remaining leaves, 9 = very few remaining leaves covered with spots, and 10 = plants defoliated (100%) or dead. 3 — = no data; cultivar not evaluated in that year.

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COMMON DISEASES OF PANSY AND VIOLA IN THE LANDSCAPE

the severity of this disease was assessed on a 1 to 12 Horsfall and Barratt rating scale where 1 = no disease, 2 = 0 to 3%, 3 = 3 to 6%, 4 = 6 to 12%, 5 = 12 to 25%, 6 = 25 to 50%, 7 = 50 to 75%, 8 = 75 to 87%, 9 = 87 to 94%, 10 = 94 to 97%, 11 = 97 to 100%, 12 = 100% of the leaves colonized by the powdery mildew fungus, Sphaerotheca fuliginea. RESULTS Over the four-year test period, Cercospora leaf spot was consistently the most common and damaging disease observed on pansy. Typically, leaves colonized by the causal fungus Cercospora viola quickly yellowed, shriveled, and died. Leaf loss usually started at the base of the shoots and continued until all but the youngest leaves were killed. The characteristic leaf spotting and premature leaf shed associated with this disease was seen on all pansy and viola selections. However, considerable differences in the level of Cercospora leaf spot severity were observed in each year among the cultivars evaluated (Table 1). Overall, Cercospora leaf spot pressure was fairly consistent across all four years. Of the pansy and viola cultivars evaluated over all four years, ‘Maxim Sherbet’ and ‘Bingo Blue with Blotch’ consistently had the lowest ratings for Cercospora leaf spot damage. At the late April or May rating dates, symptoms on both cultivars were limited to light leaf spotting and a low level of premature leaf loss (Table 1). Leaf spot ratings for the ‘Imperial Beaconsfield’ pansy were similar to those of the above cultivars in 2000, 2001, and 2002 but were noticeably higher in 1997. Over a two-year period, ‘Bingo Red & Yellow’, ‘Bingo Clear Azure’, ‘Bingo Clear Yellow’, ‘Crystal Bowl Supreme Yellow’, ‘Crystal Bowl Supreme True Blue’, ‘Majestic Giant Yellow’, and ‘Maxim Sunset’ suffered relatively light to moderate leaf spot damage. Pansy cultivars with Cercospora leaf spot ratings of 4.0 or lower for one year included ‘Bingo Red with Blotch’, ‘Crystal Bowl Purple’, ‘Dynamite Lavender’, ‘Dynamite Red & Yellow’, and the ‘Sorbet Blackberry Cream’ viola (Table 2). Since most pansy and viola cultivars proved to be susceptible to Cercospora leaf spot in at least one year, they are likely to suffer from considerable damage in landscape plantings. As indicated by a Cercospora leaf spot rating above 6.0 in at least one year, ‘Bingo Light Rose’ ‘Crown Yellow Splash’, ‘Crown Scarlet’, ‘Crown White’, ‘Crystal Bowl Scarlet’, ‘Delta Red with Blotch’, ‘Delta Pure Rose’, ‘Delta Pure Yellow’, ‘Majestic Giant Blue Shades’ pansy, and ‘Penny Blue’ viola were heavily damaged by C. viola (Table 1). Symptoms on these cultivars included a minimum of 50% premature leaf death, heavy spotting of the remaining leaves, and a notable decline

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TABLE 2. LISTING OF PANSY AND VIOLA CULTIVARS THAT ARE RESISTANT OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT AND POWDERY MILDEW
Degree of resistance or susceptibility (years tested) Least damage (four years of testing) Light to moderate damage (two years of testing) Light to moderate damage (one year of testing) Cultivar Cercospora leaf spot ‘Maxim Sherbet', 'Bingo Blue with Blotch' 'Bingo Red & Yellow', 'Bingo Clear Azure', 'Bingo Clear Yellow', 'Crystal Bowl Supreme True Blue', 'Majestic Giant Yellow', 'Maxim Sunset' 'Bingo Red with Blotch', 'Crystal Bowl Purple' 'Dynamite Lavender', 'Dynamite Red & Yellow' 'Sorbet Blackberry Cream' viola 'Bingo Light Rose', 'Crown Yellow Splash' 'Crown Scarlet', 'Crown White''Crystal Bowl Scarlet' ‘Delta Red with Blotch', 'Delta Pure Rose', 'Delta Pure Yellow, 'Majestic Giant Blue Shades', 'Penny Blue' viola Powdery mildew High incidence (1997, 2000) 1 Disease rating of > 6.0. 'Bingo Light Rose', 'Imperial Beaconsfield'

Heavy damage1 (at least one year of testing)

in plant quality and vigor. In one or more other years, Cercospora leaf spot ratings for these and many of the remaining pansy and viola cultivars ranged from 5.0 to 5.8. Such leaf spot ratings indicated that defoliation levels ranged from 25% to nearly 50% and that overall plant health and vigor was poor. Considerable leaf spot development on many Majestic Giant pansy series, such as ‘Majestic Giant Blue Shades’, was reported in a recent Louisiana study (1). While ‘Penny Blue’ and other viola selections suffered significant leaf spot damage, Holcomb and Cox (1) noted relatively low disease ratings on many of the same viola cultivars. Powdery mildew was observed in 1997 and 2000 but not in 2001 or 2002. Overall, the incidence of powdery mildew was higher in 1997 than in 2000. Powdery mildew had less of an impact on plant aesthetics and vigor than did Cercospora leaf spot. On the majority of pansy cultivars examined in 1997 and 2000, the severity of powdery mildew was very low and only a few colonies of S. fuliginea were seen on the leaves and petioles. However, significant differences in

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COMMON DISEASES OF PANSY AND VIOLA IN THE LANDSCAPE

the level of leaf and petiole colonization among the pansy and viola cultivars screened were seen in both years (Table 1). Of the pansy cultivars evaluated in both 1997 and 2000, powdery mildew was found on the leaves and leaf petioles in both years. Cultivars with low powdery mildew ratings both years include ‘Bingo Blue with Blotch’, ‘Bingo Deep Purple’, ‘Delta Pink Shades’, ‘Maxim Orange’, and ‘Maxim Sherbet’. Of the cultivars screened in 2000 only, S. fuliginea colonization of the leaves and leaf petioles was not observed on ‘Bingo Yellow’, ‘Bingo Yellow with Blotch’, ‘Imperial Antique Shades’, ‘Penny Blue’, ‘Penny Mix’, and ‘Purple Rain’. Although light, unobtrusive colonization was noted in 2000 on 19 additional cultivars, their disease ratings did not differ substantially from those that were free of powdery mildew. Of the cultivars evaluated in 1997 and 2000, powdery mildew incidence was highest on ‘Bingo Light Rose’ and ‘Imperial Beaconsville’ (Table 1). Noticeable powdery mildew development was noted in one of two years on three additional cultivars of pansy. Of the cultivars screened in 2000 alone, ‘Bingo Clear Azure’, ‘Imperial Silver Bell’, and ‘Maxim Marina’ had the highest incidence of powdery mildew. SUMMARY Cercospora leaf spot was the predominant disease found in this simulated landscape planting of pansy and viola cultivars. In all four years, extensive leaf spotting and premature leaf shed were seen on nearly all of cultivars. Rapid disease spread in late March and April may account for the noticeable and rapid decline in the beauty and vigor typically seen in mid- to late spring in landscape plantings of pansy and viola across Alabama and surrounding states. A list of pansy cultivars that were identified with partial resistance to Cercospora leaf spot can be found in Table 2. The occurrence of powdery mildew was much more sporadic than that of Cercospora leaf spot. This disease occurred on fewer cultivars, was seen in only two of four years during the study period, and caused considerably less damage to pansy than Cercospora leaf spot. In fact, only a handful of pansy cultivars, such as ‘Bingo Light Rose’ and ‘Imperial Beaconsfield’, appeared to be highly susceptible to powdery mildew. Of the pansy cultivars screened, ‘Bingo Blue with Blotch’ and ‘Maxim Sherbet’ suffered the least damage from the combination of Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew. Low levels of leaf spotting and premature defoliation due to Cercospora leaf spot were recorded for a number of other pansy cultivars, particularly several members of the Crystal Bowl series, evaluated only during the 2001-2002 growing season. Use of diseaseresistant cultivars should enhance the aesthetics and possibly the life span of pansy in residential and commercial landscapes in Alabama.

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REFERENCES (1) Holcomb, G. E. and P. Cox. 2003. Reaction of pansy, panola, and viola cultivars to Cercospora leaf spot, 2002. Biological and Cultural Tests for the Control of Plant Diseases. 18:O014. Mullen, J. and A. K. Hagan. 2001. Diseases of pansy and their control. AL Coop. Ext. Sys. Cir. ANR-1214. 8 p.

(2)