Turnips and rutabagas are vulnerable to a telephone number of diseases make by bacteria , fungi , oomycetes , and virus .
Many of these pathogen touch on the leave of the plants and deflower the power to eat or sellthe leafy vegetable . Others damage the Brassica rapa or rutabaga roots .
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Read on to learn about these disease and how to control them .
What You’ll Learn
Bacterial Diseases
A numeral of bacterial infections can taint white turnip and yellow turnip . Starting out with clean seed can serve to restrict these infection . If you could not obtain disease - resistant seeds , you cantreat them with 122 ° F waterto down any seeded player - borne pathogens .
In addition , these bacteria thrive in damp conditions , so avoiding overhead irrigation and not working among the plants while they are soaked will help to keep any disease that ’s present from scatter throughout the harvest .
It is authoritative to puke wild cruciferous plant weeds that can often harbor these disease – like violent radish and shepherd ’s purse – to help keep any destructive bacteria contained and forbid possible spread .
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harvest rotation is a critical footstep , since the bacteria can survive in craw residue in the soil . You should grow other type of plants for at least two year , and up to four years if your plants narrow bleak decomposition .
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If your plants do grow a bacterial infection , spray with copper hydrated oxide ( Kocide 3000 ) might aid to keep it from open further .
Black Rot
Black guff is one of the most prejudicial bacterial pathogens that can infect turnips and rutabagas . cause byXanthomonas campestrispv.campestris , this organism can demolish the leave and go in the plant life ’s vascular system , causing systemic disease throughout the industrial plant and finally kill it .
As its name indicates , you may end up with a grim , rotten plant if the organism is not contained .
come out with clean source is key to avoiding this disease , and you could buy seed that is attest to be loose of black rot . This disease is particularly problematical because your plants can be infected for as foresightful as 14 days before they show any symptom . By this prison term , the disease may have already spread throughout your whole crop .
The first symptom of bank note is usually yellowing of the lower leaves . Mature farewell will often have cinque - shape wound on their edges . The mineral vein on the plant will eventually turn black .
Preventing this bacterium from becoming show is the best agency to operate black rot .
take more about identifying and controlling fatal hogwash here .
Bacterial Leaf Spot
In addition to black putrefaction , two other types of bacterium may make foliage place on turnip and rutabaga . One is a bacterium that is closely related to black rot – X. campestrispv.amoraciae(Xca ) – and the other isPseudomonas syringaepv.maculicola(Psm ) .
Both types of bacterium cause small , water - soaked lesion that can fan out and fall in together to demolish the greens . Both types of infections cause yellow halos , but you’re able to tell them apart because Xca get much more obtrusive ring .
These are serious infection that are difficult to control , and they can destroy your craw . Psm infects flora at coolheaded temperature , typically in the other spring and crepuscle . In demarcation , Xca infections fall out at time with quick temperatures . This is usually a trouble in the summer .
Similarly to bootleg rot , preventing these bacterium from becoming establish is the headstone to avoiding bacterial leaf spot disease .
understand more about indentifying and check bacterial foliage spot here .
Oomycete Diseases
In case you have not get word of oomycetes , they are a grouping of organisms that were once considered kingdom Fungi but are now classified as water mold . However , they pretend like fungi !
These organisms do not kill their host , but they can cause significant damage to the leaves . As with the bacterial diseases identify above , preventing the initial infection is the good way to master oomycete diseases .
As bespeak by their name , water molds like besotted conditions . Purging cruciferous gage and belittle overhead irrigation are also ways to control these diseases .
White Rust
This pathogen – Albugo candida – produces yellow spots on the upper surfaces of the leave , and white pustules that look like blister on the bottom of the leaves .
blanched rust fungus is usually not a serious disease . However , sometimes the disease can make a systemic contagion , and spread throughout the intact works .
No antimycotic are register to see to it blanched rusting .
Read more about identifying and treating white rusting here .
Downy Mildew
In contrast , downy mildew caused byPeronspora parasiticacan be a serious disease for turnips and rutabagas , particularly in cool conditions such as those present in the fall .
This organism can kill new seedling and badly affect the greens . terrible infections can also propagate from the crown into the root andcause cracking .
Your plants can have a low - level infection that you are unaware of that can suddenly spread throughout the rows when conditions become favorable , such as when there is a lot of moisture present .
The symptom include yellow fleck on the upper leaf . If the atmospheric condition is right , the underside of the leaves will come out to have patches or a covering of white-hot mildew .
If you await that this pathogen will be a problem , you could preemptively treat with atomic number 29 hydrated oxide ( Kocide ) or fungicides .
Fungal Diseases
A number of fungi may make disease on the leaves or the roots of turnip and rutabagas .
Alternaria Leaf Spot
Two coinage of the fungusAlternaria , A. brassicicolaandA. brassicae , can cause a decorative disease on turnip and rutabaga leaves . While this does not impact the roots , it can render the greens hard to sell – both at the sodbuster grocery store and on your dinner party table – and visually unappealing .
This disease can be diagnosed fairly easily . pip drift from yellow to black phase on the leaves , and then develop concentrical ring like a target . The disease can spread to the seed pods , stem , petioles , and prime .
you could often forestall this disease from smite your crop by planting disease - free cum , operate cruciferous weeds , and doing your good to keep your plants dry .
If your turnip or turnip cabbage plant do contract this contagion , you may practice microbes ( biofungicides ) to help master it . Sprays with copper hydroxide ( Kocide ) or synthetic antifungal agent are other options to control this disease .
Read more about identify and care for Alternaria Leaf Spot .
White Spot
The pathogenCercosporella brassicaeis another fungus that can infect white turnip and rutabaga leave of absence .
The lesions that it causes range of a function from gray to brown , with perimeter that are slightly darkened .
The fungus can taint seed , or be spread from cruciferous plants like volunteers or weeds . gamy humidity and nerveless temperature help to facilitate the spread of this type of contagion .
Minimizing wetness on the plants and controlling cruciferous weeds will help to control lily-white post . If you reckon the conditions are favorable for its spread , you may spray protective antifungal on a weekly basis .
Read more about control white blot here .
Anthracnose
The fungusColletotrichum higginsianumcauses belittled , circular , dry lesions on the parting , and life-threatening infection can kill them . grey to tan lesions can also form on the etymon .
The lesions also predispose infected turnip and rutabagas to bacterial soft rot .
Infected seminal fluid can be a source of this fungus , but it can also distribute from fallen leaves and some type of wild crucifer weeds such as savage radish , shepherd ’s purse , wild Indian mustard , and Piper nigrum grasses .
The disease typically pass during moist , warm weather , and it can be controlled with fungicides .
Clubroot
The particularly nasty fungusPlasmodiophora brassicaeinfects the roots of turnip and rutabagas , leaving them full of galls and highly deformed .
The harm may appear to have been cause by nematode worm , and can be difficult to diagnose .
regrettably , this fungus can survive in the dirt for more than 10 years and is next to impossible to eliminate .
Since control is not an choice , prevention is your best bet . Only flora certified disease - free seed , and be thrifty about spread the fungus from septic plants .
White Mold
Given the extremely wide emcee range ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum , it is no surprisal that snowy mold may afflict turnip and rutabagas . This disease – also refer to as Sclerotinia forest rot – results in blanched - gray lesions on the base , and grey lesions on the leaves .
High humidity and nerveless temperature assist the increment of white mold .
As with most of the other ailment described here , controlling green goddess will help to keep infection . Rotate your harvest to imbed non - cruciferous vegetables for at least three years after growing them in your fields , garden , or raised bed .
Foliar fungicides can help to verify bloodless mold .
Viral Diseases
Turnip Mosaic
Both cabbage and peach aphids pass around turnip mosaic virus , which can gravely impact plants .
This disease can cause dead sphere and a diagnostic pattern of chicken and gullible mosaics on the leaves . The older leaves may turn yellow , and plant growth will be stunted .
white turnip mosaic computer virus can greatly foreshorten production .
The respectable direction to command this disease is tocontrol the aphids . One direction to do this is to expend reflective mulches . If necessary , you could also use insecticide for this purpose . good dirt ball may offer a helping hand(er , stage ? mandible ? ) as well .
Read more about controlling this viral infection here .
A Plethora of Diseases Attack Turnips and Rutabagas
Numerous bacterial and fungous diseases may assault Brassica rapa and rutabagas . In addition , the water molds white rust and downy mildew are potential pathogens , and turnip mosaic computer virus may severely affect the issue .
But this is n’t a reason to avert grow these delicious etymon crops !
know the symptoms of contagion by these pathogens can help you to diagnose these ailments , and to ascertain what dominance amount are appropriate .
Planting only certified disease - free seminal fluid can prevent many of these disease from becoming introduce or established , although volunteer plant and cruciferous grass can harbour reservoirs of many of these pathogen .
regrettably there are sure diseases , particularly clubroot , that are not readily manipulate .
And if you need more information on handle brassica pests , disease , or disorders , one of these guides might serve :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally publish September 1st , 2019 . Last updated August 29th , 2023 . Product exposure via Southern Agricultural Insecticide , LLC . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Helga George , Ph.D.
