Released: April 24, 2002

Daylily Disease Here to Stay?

MANHATTAN, Kan. – An "exotic" daylily disease that entered the U.S. Southeast several years ago made its way into several Kansas locations by the 2001 growing season.

"Odds are, daylily rust will become a fixture here. If not, we’ll keep seeing it reintroduced on plants brought in from other states. This could end up limiting Kansans’ use of certain daylily varieties," said Ned Tisserat, plant pathologist at Kansas State University.

Susceptible varieties include Attribution, Colonel Scarborough, Crystal Tide, Double Buttercup, Gertrude Condon, Happy Returns, Imperial Guard, Irish Ice, Joan Senior, Karie Ann,Quannah, Lemon Yellow, Little Gypsy Vagabond, Ming Toy, Pandora’s Box, Pardon Me, Prelude to Love, Russian Rhapsody, Starstruck and Stella de Oro.

"This is just a preliminary list, though. We’re still learning," the plant pathologist said.

Tisserat is urging Kansans to scout for the disease. If they find possible cases, they should contact a local K-State Research and Extension office and consider sending samples to Manhattan for a diagnosis.

The symptoms are one-eighth inch, yellow-orange spots or blisters on both leaf surfaces. Inside the spots are orange, dusty spores that blow or rub off. Over time, infected leaves lose their green and dry up.

"Except for the spots and spores, rust can look a lot like the leaf bronzing daylilies exhibit during high temperatures," he said. "But the spores are how the disease spreads, so you need to be careful.

"I recommend trimming off any leaves showing symptoms. You may be able to carefully slide an open plastic bag over the leaves first, to contain any spores you disturb. Afterwards, wash both hands and pruning tools, so they can’t transport spores to other plants, either."

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Kathleen Ward, Communications Specialist
kward@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News