Articles
Goldenrod (Solidago) Diseases
Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Goldenrod (Solidago) diseases.
Updated:
July 5, 2023
| Disease | Symptoms | Pathogen/Cause | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rust | Small, bright orange, yellow, or brown pustules on the underside of leaves. | Coleosporium, Puccinia or Uromyces | Provide good air circulation. Clean up all debris. Avoid overhead watering. Golden Fleece and Fireworks are reported to be resistant to rust and powdery mildew. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. |
| Powdery mildew | The powdery white or gray fungus is most evident on the upper surface of leaves. Leaves will often turn yellow or brown, curl up, and drop off; new foliage emerges crinkled and distorted. Use the same methods that are described for the control rusts above. | Golovinomyces, Erysiphe, Uncinula, Phyllactinia, Sphaerotheca | Provide good air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Golden Fleece and Fireworks are reported to be resistant to powdery mildew and rust. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. |
| Fungal leaf spots | Small, dark spots of fungal infection tend to appear first on lower leaves. Leaves with numerous spots may turn yellow, then brown, and wither. | Ascochyta, Asteroma, Cercospora, Colletotrichum, Macrophoma, Phyllosticta, Placosphaeria, Ramularia, Septoria. | Avoid overhead watering, space plants adequately to insure rapid drying, and water early in the day. Apply a fungicide to protect plants. |
| Bacterial leaf spot | Dark brown to black spots form on the leaves. | Xanthomonas sp. | Avoid overhead watering, space plants adequately to insure rapid drying, and water early in the day. |
| Aster yellows | Plants become yellowed and flowers lack their usual coloration. Tight clusters of leaves may form. | Phytoplasma | Remove and destroy infected plants. Apply insecticides to suppress leafhoppers that spread the pathogen. |
| Crown gall | Galls or swollen areas form at the soil line or sometimes higher where the plant had been wounded. | Agrobacterium tumefaciens | Start with healthy plants that are free of any galls. Remove and destroy infected plants. |
| Lesion nematodes | Roots may be stubby with darkened areas along their length. | Pratylenchus pratensis | Remove and destroy infected plants. Replant with non-host species. |
| Virus | Yellow or brown rings form on leaves or leaves may be yellowed in a mottled pattern. Plants may be stunted. | Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) | Infected plants should be removed and destroyed. Use insecticides to suppress the insect that spreads the virus, western flower thrips. |
Prepared by Gary W. Moorman, Professor of Plant Pathology










