Foliar Diseases of Hydrangeas

Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Md Niamul Kabir and Adam Blalock

Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center ANR-PATH-5-2016

College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences
Tennessee State University

Hydrangeas are summer-flowering shrubs and are one of the showiest

and most spectacular flowering woody plants in the landscape (Fig.
1). The appearance, health, and market value of hydrangea can be
significantly influenced by the impact of different diseases. This
publication focuses on common foliar diseases of hydrangea and their
management recommendations.

Powdery Mildew Fig 1. Hydrangea cv. Munchkin

Causal agents: Golovinomyces orontii (formerly Erysiphe polygoni), Erysiphe poeltii,

Microsphaera friesii, Oidium hortensiae

Class: Leotiomycetes

Powdery mildew pathogens have a very broad host range

including hydrangeas. Some hydrangea species such as the
bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are more
susceptible to this disease while other species such as the
oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), appear to be more
resistant.

In an outdoor environment, powdery mildew pathogens

generally overwinter in the form of spores or fungal hyphae.
Fig 2. Powdery mildew
In a heated greenhouse setting, powdery mildew can be active
year round. Spores and hyphae begin to grow when humidity is high but the leaf surface is dry. Warm days
and cool nights also favor powdery mildew growth. The first sign of the disease is small fuzzy gray circles or
patches on the upper surface of the leaf (Figs. 2 and 3). Inspecting these circular patches of fuzzy gray
growth with a hand lens will reveal an intricate web of fungal hyphae. Sometimes small dark dots or
structures can be seen within the web of fungal hyphae. Powdery mildew can spread easily by air currents
and plant-to-plant contact. If plants infected with powdery mildew are not treated, growth may slow or stop
altogether. Flowering can also be reduced by powdery mildew infections.
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To protect plants against powdery mildew, reduce conditions that are
favorable to disease development by increasing air circulation,
reducing humidity if possible, and keeping plant debris out of the
production area. Fungicide applications will be more effective when
used before symptoms development (Table 1).

Fig 3. Powdery mildew

Cercospora Leaf Spot

Causal agent: Cercospora hydrangea

Class: Dothideomycetes

Cercospora leaf spot is a destructive leaf

disease of hydrangea in the landscape and in
nurseries. This disease can affect most of the
hydrangea varieties. Low-maintenance
landscape plantings are most susceptible to get
this disease. The first symptoms of this disease
are small circular brown or purple spots,
which appear on the leaves near the base of
the plant. On the bigleaf hydrangea these spots
turn light gray in color and are surrounded by
a brown or purple halo (Fig. 4). On the oakleaf
hydrangea these spots appear angular in shape
and are dark brown to purple in color. Leaves
that are severely spotted become a yellow-
green color and may fall to the ground. Fallen
infected leaves are the main source of the
causative fungus spores. These spores can
Fig 4. Cercospora leaf spot
spread very easily by wind and overhead
irrigation. For this reason, the rate of the disease spread increases by frequent late summer rain showers.
The following management strategies such as longtime drought, removing infected leaves, applying
nitrogen containing fertilizer, and surface watering (such as drip irrigation) can be used to reduce this
disease. Fungicides are not a good consideration option to reduce this disease, as if symptoms appear late
in the season, but they can be effective when first signs of leaf spots are observed. Multiple applications are
needed for effective control of Cercospora leaf spot using fungicides.

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Botrytis Blight

Causal agent: Botrytis cinerea

Class: Leotiomycetes

Almost all of the species of hydrangea are susceptible to Botrytis blight, but most of the damage is reported
on the bigleaf hydrangea. First symptoms of this disease can be observed on the plant's flower buds, petals
and blossoms. Suitable conditions for the development of Botrytis blight are several days of cloudy, humid
and rainy weather. Small water-soaked spots are often observed on hydrangea flower petals, which quickly
expand into reddish brown irregular blotches and are often covered with B. cinerea sporulation. Gray spores
can easily be seen on the infected fallen leaves with the help of a hand lens. Suitable environmental conditions
such as cool (65˚F), humid, wet conditions can increase the growth and reproduction rate of B. cinerea. As
these fungal spores survive for a long time in plant debris they are easily dispersed to healthy tissue by wind.
Once they land on a healthy plant, they can germinate and start new infections. Management of Botrytis
blight requires a combination of sanitation, cultural practices and protective fungicide applications. Before
bringing fresh plant material into the greenhouse, previous debris must be cleared from benches and beds.
Continuous disposing of infected plants, blooms, and other debris are also required. Disinfectants can be used
to clean surfaces and tools in propagation and production areas. Disease free cutting stock must be collected
for propagation and cuttings needs to be handled carefully to minimize wounding of the tissues. Proper
irrigation, ventilation, reduced relative humidity and blocking UV radiation can reduce the rate of spore
germination and infection by B. cinerea.

Anthracnose

Causal agents: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum dematium

Class: Sordariomycetes

Anthracnose pathogens have a broad host range, which includes a wide variety of commonly grown woody
shrubs and trees. The fungus Colletotrichum can attack both leaves and blooms in the lower and upper part of
bigleaf hydrangea plant canopy. Development of this disease is favorable in wet weather conditions. Heavily
fertilized hydrangea may become more susceptible to anthracnose disease. First symptoms of this disease are
the circular or slightly irregular brown spots forming on the leaves. The center of these brown spots turns to
tan in color. Sometimes larger spots appear on border mid vein or other major veins in the leaf and they
become clearly more angular in shape. When anthracnose developed under favorable environmental
conditions, large, dark brown, irregular spots can spread across the whole leaves and flower petals. Several
continuous days of wet conditions can produce masses of spores, which can be embedded in hydrangea leaf
debris. Spores may spread by splashing water to the leaves and bloom clusters. Repeated showers, dew, and
lengthened periods of heavy fog can speed up the rate of infection and the appearance of symptoms. The main
source of anthracnose inoculum is the infected hydrangea. The following options are available for managing
anthracnose on hydrangea such as taking cuttings from healthy plants; collecting fallen diseased leaves and

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removing blighted blooms from landscape plantings. Proper fungicide treatments can also protect susceptible
hydrangea from anthracnose.

Alternaria Leaf Spot

Cause: Alternaria spp.

Class: Dothideomycetes

Alternaria leaf spot is a problem of Hydrangea macrophylla

and H. anomala subsp. petiolaris in the landscape.
Symptoms of Alternaria leaf spot include spots on the upper
side of the leaves surrounded by a chlorotic halo (Fig. 5).
Lesions may coalesce into necrotic areas and necrosis may
develop on the leaf margins and near the petioles. The
following options are available for managing Alternaria leaf Fig 5. Alternaria leaf spot
spot on hydrangea such as collecting fallen diseased leaves
from the landscape plantings and fungicide applications.

Rust

Causal agent: Pucciniastrum hydrangeae

Class: Pucciniomycetes

Rust is a destructive leaf disease of Hydrangea arborescens, commonly known as smooth hydrangea, in
landscape and nurseries. The first signs of rust disease are brown to orange pustules on the underside of leaves
and yellow spots on the upper side. The pathogen is an obligate parasite so it needs living tissue to grow. The
pathogen needs two hosts to complete its life cycle. Thinning the inside of the hydrangea bush, cleaning rust
infected leaves and fallen plant debris around both hemlock and hydrangea may help to manage this disease.
Many products can be used to disinfect cutting tools. The cultivar ‘Frosty’ shows resistance to rust disease so
it should be preferred.

Phyllosticta Leaf Spot

Cause: Phyllosticta hydrangeae-quercifoliae

Class: Dothideomycetes

The first symptoms of this disease are small water soaked areas on the leaves. Those areas turn to circular
spots with brown borders. Fungal fruiting bodies can be seen on the leaf spots with a hand lens. Removing
infected leaves will help to reduce pathogen inoculum. Proper fungicide treatments can also protect
susceptible hydrangea from Phyllosticta leaf spot.
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Bacterial Foliar Diseases of Hydrangea

Bacterial leaf spot and bacterial wilt are important bacterial diseases of hydrangea. Hydrangea
quercifolia (Oakleaf hydrangea), H. macrophylla, and H. arboreacens are most commonly affected by
bacterial leaf spot disease. Xanthomonas campestris is the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot diseases. The
bacterial pathogen mostly enters into the plant through stomata, other natural openings, and/or plant wounds.
Symptoms of bacterial leaf spot disease first appear as water-soaked spots. The spots become more darken
and develop an angular shape; some of the spots may enlarge, coalesce and eventually cause death of mature
leaves. Bacterial wilt disease in hydrangea occurs mainly after heavy rains and hot weather.

The causal pathogen of bacterial wilt disease is Ralstonia solanacearum. Symptoms of bacterial wilt disease
are it may blight the flower clusters and leaves, but in severe conditions wilting and root rot occur, followed
by plant death. Eradicate the infected plant parts can help to reduce bacterial leaf spot and bacterial wilt
diseases. Proper bactericide treatment can also protect susceptible hydrangea from bacterial leaf spot but there
is no chemical control available for bacterial wilt disease.

Virus Diseases of Hydrangea

In nursery production and landscape planting of hydrangea, so far fifteen viruses have been reported as
pathogens for hydrangea. Viruses affect almost all cultivated Hydrangea spp. but H. macrophylla are most
susceptible to viral diseases. The following fifteen viruses are reported as main viral pathogens on Hydrangea
spp.: Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV), Cucumber
mosaic virus (CMV), Hydrangea mosaic virus (HdMV), Hydrangea latent virus (HdLV), Hydrangea ringspot
virus (HdRSV), Hydrangea chlorotic mottle virus (HdCMV), Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), Tobacco
necrosis virus (TNV), Tobacco rattle virus (TRV), Tobacco ringspot virus (TobRSV), Tomato blackring virus
(TBRV), Tomato ringspot virus (TomRSV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The visual symptoms
include leaf mottling, blistering, leaf distortion, leaf chlorosis with green blotches or brown leaf spots on
leaves, reddening, both chlorotic and ring spots, stunting and sometimes flower virescence. Viruses can be
transmitted on hydrangea mechanically by leaf contact, knives, and aphids such as the green peach aphid.
Sometimes viruses can be transmitted by nematodes or by the western flower thrips as well. Basically there is
no cure for viruses in plants, as the infection is systemic, most of the tissues in plant can carry the viruses.
Effective cultural practices can reduce the risk of damage by viruses. Some examples of cultural practices are
removal of infected plants and plants parts as soon as possible, surface sterilization of knives before cutting
with disinfectants, planting clean stock in containers in soilless media to avoid nematode - vectored viruses,
controlling weeds and also insect vectors.

Reference

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Gould, A. 2012. Disease Control Recommendations for Ornamental Crops
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=E036

For additional information, contact your local nursery specialist office.

Tennessee State University

College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences
3500 John A. Merritt Blvd., Box 9635 Nashville, TN 3720 -1561
http://www.tnstate.edu/extension

Tennessee State University, Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center

472 Cadillac Lane McMinnville, TN 37110 http://www.tnstate.edu/agriculture/nrc/

Precautionary Statement

To protect people and the environment, pesticides should be used safely. This is everyone’s responsibility, especially
the user. Read and follow label directions carefully before you buy, mix, apply, store or dispose of a pesticide.
According to laws regulating pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label.

Disclaimer

This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. The recommendations in
this publication are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator’s responsibility, by law, to read and
follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The label always takes precedence over the
recommendations found in this publication. Use of trade, brand, or active ingredient names in this publication is for
clarity and information; it does not imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar and
suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product. The author(s) and Tennessee State
University assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.

Dr. Chandra Reddy, Dean, Tennessee State University, College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences

Dr. Latif Lighari, Associate Dean Extension, Tennessee State University, College of Agriculture, Human and Natural
Sciences

Dr. Nick Gawel, Superintendent, Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center, Tennessee State University, College of
Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences

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Table 1. Selected lists of fungicide/bactericide and biopesticide groups that may help control foliar diseases of hydrangeas (Gould, 2012).
Active Ingredient FRAC Powdery Cercospora Botrytis Anthracnose Alternaria Rust Phyllosticta Bacterial
code Mildew Leaf Spot blight Leaf Spot Leaf spot Leaf
Spot
Azoxystrobin 11 + + + + +
Boscalid + Pyraclostrobin 7 + 11 + + + + + + +
Chlorothalonil M5 + + + + + + +
Chlorothalonil + Thiophanate-methyl M5 + 1 + + + + + + +
Copper (octanoate, pentahydrate) M1 + + + + + + + +
Dicloran 14 +
Fenarimol 3 +
Iprodione 2 + +
Iprodione + Thiophanate-methyl 2+1 + + + +
Kresoxim-methyl 11 + + +
Mancozeb M3 + + + + +
Myclobutanil 3 + + +
Neem oil + + + + +
Piperalin 5 +
Polyoxin-D 19 + + +
Pyraclostrobin 11 + + + + +
Streptomycin sulfate 25 +
Sulfur M2 + +
Tebuconazole 3 + + +
Thiophanate-methyl 1 + + + +
Tri oxystrobin 11 + + + +
Tri umizole 3 + + +
Triadimefon 3 + + +
NOTE: Before applying ANY disease management product, be sure to: 1) read the label to be sure that the product is allowed for the crop and the disease you intend
to control; 2) read and understand the safety precautions and application restriction.