A GLOBAL DISEASE

Anthuriums are perennial, herbaceous epiphytes with a climbing habit. They are produced commercially for the wide variety of colours and shapes of their heart-shaped spathes, often referred to as the floral portion. Anthuriums are the most important cut flowers in the floriculture industry today. The top four producers of anthurium cut flowers worldwide are Netherlands, Hawaii, Mauritius, and Jamaica, followed by smaller tropical flower producers in the Philippines, Tahiti, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Brazil, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Florida and California.

Disease problems, including anthracnose, root rot, and lesion nematode, developed as cultivation increased from small plots to large operations. The most serious disease problem to strike the industry is bacterial blight caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.dieffenbachiae (X.campestris pv. dieffenbachiae). The disease was first reported in Kauai in 1972. The disease reached epidemic proportion in 1985 – 1989, destroying the production of approximately 200 small farms. Once introduced into new growing area, bacterial blight may result in 50 – 100% loss of plants. This devastating disease has limited anthurium production not only in Hawaii, but throughout the world where anthuriums are produced. Bacterial blight affects most genera and species in the family Araceae By 1992, it had been reported in the Philippines, Guam, Australia, Florida, Jmaica, Puerto Rico, Martinque, Venezuela and Trinidad and has since been reported in India. Recently, in Coorg district of Karnataka, the disease devasted many farms. To be continued……