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Lecture 12. Cut flower production of Orchids and Anthurium

1. Orchids

Importance

Orchids are the most fascinating and beautiful of all flowers. They exhibit a

wide range of diversity of flowers. Orchids constitute immense horticultural

importance and play a very useful role to balance the forest ecosystem.

Cultivation of orchids has become a very profitable occupation.

New hybrids and commercial cut flowers expanded tremendously in

Europe, USA, South America, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and

Srilanka. In spite of their commercial value, the orchids in India have not get

gained the attention and popularity they deserve.

As compared to the above countries, the export and sale of orchids in

India is negligible. Only few nursery men based at Kalimpong in Darjeeling

district of West Bengal and in Sikkim export some orchids but the trade is

unorganized. Like other important orchid growing countries, India is blessed

with a wealth of orchid flora, and about 1600 species are estimated to occur

in this country. There is tremendous scope for orchid improvement and

development of industry based on these wonderful plants. Many orchids

native to this country are important parent plants for the production of

several outstanding hybrids in the world. Hybrids of certain Indian orchids

like Vanda coerula (Blue vanda or Blue moon vanda) and species of

Cymbidium, Dendrobium and Paphiopedilum are considered the monarchs in

the orchid world. Due to the diversity of environmental condition in India, it

is possible to grow all types of orchids in suitable places without the control

of environment. Dendrobium species is a typical tropical orchid species

suitable for Chennai and other coastal areas where the humidity is high.The
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important varieties of Dendrobium, Sonia-17, Sonia-28, Madam Pampadour,

Pravit white, Sarifa Fatima, Emma white, Ekapal Panda etc.

Botany

Orchidaceae is the largest family of angiosperms.

It comprises of over 800 genera and 35,000 species.

The family, in addition, contains more than 80,000 hybrids.

Sub Kingdom --- Phanerogams

Division --- Angiosperms

Class --- Monocotyledous

Order --- Orchidales

Family --- Orchidaceae

(Bentham & Hooker)

Origin : Tropical Forests of Amazon & Indo - Malayan region

Based on growth habit orchids are classified in two monopodial and

simpodial

Based on their habitats, orchids fall under 5 classes

(i) Terrestrial (or) Ground Orchids

* Grow in soil

* Sympodial and perennial

* Example : Spathoglottis plicata, Arundina graminifolia, Phaius tankervilleae

(ii) Epiphytic Orchids

* Grow well on other plants

* Abundant in humid tropical rain forests of India.

* Elevation upto 3000m.

* Example : Vanda, Vanilla, Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Cattleya, Oncidium etc.

(iii) Saprophytic Orchids


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* Live on dead and decaying organic matter

* Found on the moist forest floors.

* Example : Neottia, Galeola, Listera etc.

(iv) Lithophytic Orchids

* Rare and grown in moist, shaded rocks and crevices of walls.

* Example : Cymbidium munronianum, Diplomeris birsuta

(v) Subterranean Orchids

* Underground orchids

* Found in Australia

* Example : Rhizanthetta and Cryptanthemis

Propagation

Traditional methods of propagation are all slow processes and help in

producing only a few additional orchid plants in an year. But they ensure

uniformity among the plant types. Most growers multiply orchid plants by

division, through off-shoots and by cuttings.

Division : It is suitable for sympodial orchids. In about 4-5 years growth, an

orchid clump

may acquire some 8-10 good sized canes and such a plant can be divided to

4-5 individual units having at least 2 canes per division. Eg. Dendrobium,

Cattleya, Epidendrum, Oncidium etc.

Off-Shoots (Keikis) : Off-Shoots are miniature plants with roots from the

nodes of old canes. Application of cytokinins like BAP 1g/litre will stimulate

new off shoots in Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum etc.

Cuttings : Matured stems should be cut neatly into pieces with 3-4 nodes

and a few roots. They can be planted on sand and kept in shade for root

development.Eg. Vanda, Arachnis, Ascocentrum etc.


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Flower stalk cuttings of Phalaenopsis, Phaius etc., can also be used for

multiplication. Treatments with 4000-5000 ppm IBA or NAA enhance root

development. Air-layering has reported as a propagation method in vanda

and some other monopodials. As all these methods can generate only a few

plants at a time, nowadays newer techniques like dry seed culture, green pod

culture and meristem culture are resorted to by both growers and breeders to

produce large number of plants in a short period.

Cultivation practices

Unlike many other cultivated ornamentals, orchids are very hardy plants

which can withstand quite a lot of adversities. However, for growing them

successfully upto flowering condition, a number of key factors must be

satisfied. These are temperature, humidity, light, aeration, watering, pots

and potting materials, repotting and division, fertilizer application and plant

protection. As the orchid family is comprised of a large number of genera

having characters of extreme diversity, different groups of orchids need

different conditions of growth.

Temperature

Orchids have originated from all the different temperature regimes of the

world and consistent with its place of origin, each orchid requires a specific

temperature for optimum growth. For orchids suitable to cool climates the

temperature requirement is 12 °- 25°C (night / day). For temperate orchids

the temperature requirement is 15°-30°C (night /day). In the case of orchids

suitable for hot climate (tropical) 18° - 32°C (night /day). From these basic

temperature requirements, we can see that orchids which grow well and

flower under our climatic condition.


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Humidity : This is a critical factor especially for orchids coming from the

tropics. Humidity should range between 50 and 75%. When temperature is

high, humidity will be correspondingly low. So in the warm months of the

year, humidity can be raised by frequent sprays of water.

Light : Light is the most important single factor that controls healthy growth

of the plant and their ability to reach flowering. Some orchids need full sun

to flower while others die if kept in full sun. Again basically orchids fall under

three groups i.e., those that require full sun, those that need intermediate

exposure to sunlight and those that need full shade. Intensity of light that

falls on the plants can be controlled by proper shading methods. Poly

propylene shade nets of various intensities such as 25%, 50%, 75% etc., are

now available in the market and those should be used judiciously to provide

optimum light /shade condition to the plant.

Aeration : Air that constantly circulates keeps the orchid plants in good

health. Stagnant and still air promotes fungal growth. A fresh moist

atmosphere with good air circulation is ideal.

Watering : Watering is also one of the important factors that controls

successful orchid cultivation.

The two questions that arise here are : 1. How much water is to be given?

and 2. When watering is to be done?

Too much water will encourage fungal and bacterial growth. Too little water

will stunt the plant. The latter is better than excess watering. However the

best way is to get adjusted to the right amount of watering for healthy

growth. This depends on several factors such as the type of orchid, type of

pot, potting medium, position of shade house etc.


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Containers and supports

Climbing orchids and terrestrial orchids can be generally planted on the

ground but it is better to grow epiphytic orchids in some type of container or

support such as pots, wooden baskets, coconut husks, tree fern rafts, pieces

of wood etc.

Potting medium

Orchids thrive well under a wide range of growing media but the most

common mixture consists of charcoal, coconut husk pieces, dried tree fern

roots, sphagnum moss, broken pieces of bricks, perlite pieces etc., either

singly or in combination. The principle is that there should be good drainage

and at the same time sufficient water retention. A micro climate of an

optimum combination of moisture and aeration must be created within the

pot which will favour the healthy growth of the plant.

Repotting : Orchids need repotting regularly, usually every two to three

years. This is necessary when the plant grows large and overgrows its

container or when the potting material deteriorates or when the plant has to

be split or divided. It is better to repot epiphytes every year. The best time for

repotting is when fresh roots emerge at the bases of the previous year’s

growth. In the case of monopodial climbers, repotting or division has to be

done when new leaf growth shows at the top and there is new root growth.

Splitting or division of plants

Whenever a plant has grown to a large clump with 2 or 3 old canes and new

shoots, it can be divided before repotting. Each division must have at least

one old cane of two years’ growth, one new shoot and some new roots.When

monopodial climbers have grown to be very tall and unmanageable, it is


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possible to cut the top region with a few roots and plant it anew. Off-shoots

that arise from the nodes of the stem also can be cut and potted.

Fertilizer application

In their natural habitats, orchids grow on no special nutrients, depending

only on what they could absorb from decaying tree bark and the atmosphere.

A synthetic inorganic fertilizer, equally balanced in nitrogen (N),

phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) of strength 20:10:10 dissolved in water at

the rate of 0.2% spray twice a week + boric acid 125ppm+GA3 125ppm twice

a month for shade net grown crops.

Organic fertilizers like cowdung, chicken manure, groundnut cake,

neem cake etc. can be moderately used. It must be soaked in water at 1:10 or

1:20 for 2 to 3 days to allow decomposition of the fertilizer. The supernatant

solution is used for spraying once of twice a month.

Harvesting and Handling

• Both are very important operations.

• Proper time and method of harvest controls vase life and the quality

• Dendrobium flower fully matured only 3 or 4 days after it opens.

• A spike can be cut at last 1or 2 buds are yet to open or 20 per cent of

flowers are in bud condition.

• Immediately after harvest, the lower 0.75cm of the peduncle is cut off, and

the flower is inserted into a fresh tube of water containing preservative.

• Treatment with 8-HQC+5% sucrose improve the flower quality and vase-life

of flowers.

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ANTHURIUM
Araceae
INTRODUCTION

This genus comprises 500 species, inhabiting the tropical zones of


Central and South America. Two flowering species in this genus are
extremely beautiful and commercially important. Anthurium andreanum is
an epiphytic plant with a somewhat vine-like hat it of prowth. These
herbaceous perennial plant of the tropical region are famous for their
attractive and long lasting flowers. The plants are charelerised by the
presence of colourful spathe and bundreds of small flowers on the spaidx
rising from the base of the spathe. This plant produces three to eight leaves
per year depending upon netrition, environment and cultivar. Lateral buds
at the base of the plant also develop into shoots increasing the productivity of
the plant and providing propagaules. Anthurium scherzerianum is
herbaceous plant with many stems of basal origin, which is another beautiful
flowering plant in this genus, commercially grown as a pot plant. In this
chapter. Anthurium andreanum is discussed.
VARIETIES OF ANTHRIUM
There are three different types of anthurium flowers, namely,
Standard, Obake and Tullp. The most commor type is ‘Standard’ whose size
varles from 12 x 11 cm to 20 x 18 cm, heart shaped, the spathe lobes often
overlapping. ‘Oboke’ types are bicolour, popular for their two-tone
coloration, green and a major spathe colour. There are miniature and large
size varieties in this type. The ‘Tulip’ types have upright cupped spathes
with a straight and crect spadix, producting medium sized spathe. There are
a large number of varieties available in anthurium, some of which are listed
below:
Red Spathe: Asahi, Avo Nette, Avo Serge, Avo Claudia, Altiplane,
Calypso, Carre, Cancan, Chilli Red, Duke of Edinburgh, Fla Red, Fla King,
Fla Success, Eureka Red, Kozohara, Kaumana, Madam Butterfly, Mickey,
Mauritius Red, Moune, Jacqueline, Ozaki Red Elf, Sweet Heart Red, Toscane,
Tanaka, Tropical, Violetta, Winston Delight and Quito.
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Pink Spathe: Abe Pink, Ava Anneke, Agnihotri, Alipine, Blush Bettine,
Cambia, Candy Stripe, Hoenette, Fair Lady, Lady Jane, Launette, Marian
Seefurth, Paradise Pink, Passion, Premier, Sarina, Surprise Rosa, Spirit,
Sweet Heart Pink and Sweet Heart Cherry.
White Spathe: Acropolis, Avo Margerett, Avo Jose, Angel Cotopaxi,
Chameleon, De Weese, Fla Exotic, Geisha, Firnay, Hara White, Jamaica,
Hidden Treasure, Lambada, Lima. Mauritius white, Myron Mooni, Manoa
Mist, Maunekea, Uranus, Uniwai, Trinidad and suchiro.
Salmon Spatha: Sweety.
Orange Spathe: Avo Gino, Casino, Dimaond Juoilee, Fia Range,
Hawaii, Horning Rubin, Horning Orange, Mauritius Orange, Nitta, sunburst,
Sweet Heart Orange.
Wine Red Spathe: Kingston.
Green Spathe: Midori, Rainbow Laugna.
Brown Spathe: Choca.
Bicolour Spathe: Cultivars with bicolour come under ‘Cbake’ group
which are extremely variable in size and shape. Fla Rope, Chameleon,
Cardmal, Anuenue, Kalapana, Mlekey Mouse, Lamboda, Paradiso, Madam
Pele, Rainbow, Madone, Farao.
Mauve Spathe: Lavender Lady.
Cream Spathe: Fantasia.
There are some double flowering anthurium plants which produce on
small and one large spathe on the some stem with a single spadix and are
available in red, pink and orange colours.
The varieties like Alpine, Sweety, Funny, Toscane, Kingstone and Rosa
are considered to be good pot plants with beautiful flowers. The well known
miniature variety is ‘Lady Jane’.
There is maximum demand for red coloured varieties. Other colours in
anthurium, in order of customers’ preference are pink, cream, obake, white,
salmon, yellow and green.
FLORAL DEVELOPMENT
The clongation of the stem bearing the spadix bebins about on month
after expansion of the subtending leaf. The time of floral differentiation,
however, has not been determined. The cycle of the leaf and flower
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emergence varies with the season, being greater during periods of cooler
temperature and low light intensity. A 5 mm flower bud can be found in the
axil of the subtending leaf even before significant elongation of the leaf
occurs, and a dormant period, is reported or the flower bud. After passing
through a juvenile period when the flowers are not initiate a plant initiates a
flower for each leaf with the potential for 3 to 8 flowers per plant per year.
The anthurium flower is a spadix or inflorescence spike, cylindrical in
shape, bearing up to 300 inconspicuous bisexual flowers arranged in a series
of spirals. The is subtending by a showy leaf-like structure called a spathe.
The spadix and spathe are borne on a leafless stem or pedumcle.
Commercial flower narvesting takes place when approximately three quarters
of the stigmas along the spadix have become receptive. Protogyny prevents
self-fertilisation as the stigmatic surfaces become receptive about one week
befor pollen is shed in the same flower.

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
Flower initiation of anturium occurs at a temperature of 180C and
above, with the optimum reported at 200C or higher. Leaf cooling has been
reported to improve flower production of Anthurium andreamum under
conditions of high ligh intensity. Long petioles and wide spatle, representing
the highest quality, result from 19 and 220C air temperature. Production of
flowers is maximum at 16 to 190C. Vegetative growth of the plants is best at
220C. Below 160C spathe necrosis may be observed.

EFFECT OF LIGHT
Under greenhouse conditions, increasing light intensity to a maximum
of 18 K1x with leaf cooling at 15 K1x improves flower production by an
average of 140 per cent. The Hawaiian recommendation for 75 per cent
shade is approximately 32 to 38 Klx, although the range actually used varies
from 50 to 90 per cent of full sunlight (162 Klx). There is no report on
photoperiod responses on anthurium.

ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING


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The optimum temperature range is 18 to 270C. The period of growth


and flower development is influenced by temperature. The best relative
humidity is 70 to 80 per cent. This is a shade loving plant and nearly 80 per
cent shade is ideal for good growth of the plants, size of the spathe and
spadix as well as colour development. The degree of shading, however, varies
with the age of the plant and the climate in which it is grown. These plants
are to be grown under shade houses with at least 75 per cent shade net cover
on the top. The sides of the houses are covered with a single layer of shade
net. Such shade nets provide uniform shade and reduce bird and insect
damage. Installation and use of overhead sprinkers or misters or fogging
systems inside the shade house helps in increasing humidity and
maintaining temperature. Low cost polyhouses or climatic conditions control
greenhouses can also be employed for successful growing of anthurium.

GROWING MEDIA
Anthurium thrive best in a high organic, well-acrated medium with pH
rage between 5.5 and 6.0 and good water retention capacity but with proper
drainage and aeration. A variety of growing media are available like
sugarcane bagasse, fock wool, wood shavings, leaf mould, coir pith, coconut
husk, cured coffee pulp, spent ground coffee or coffee parchment. They
thrive best in various combinations of soil, coarse sand, brick pieces,
farmyard manure, sugarcane bagasse, car cash and neem cake. As a
growing medium, coconut husk and cocopeat salt, especially sodium chloride
and caleium ions in the medium. They can be planted in earthen pots (22 to
30 can) or in the ground.

PLANTING AND SPACING


Anthurium scherzeriamon and its hybrids and miniature types are
planted in pots and are generally used as indoor plants. Small plants are
put in 10 cm pots and, with increased growth, they are transplanted to larger
pots.
For Planting Anturium andreanum, raised buds are prepared to plant
in the ground. For planting under shade nets or polyhouses, the beds of 1.2
m width with 3 maximum length of 45 m and led height of 20 cm are laid
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out. In between the beds, 80 cm paths are kept. A closer spacing of 6 to 7


plants per square meter is generally followed. Four rows of plants are
planted in the beds, and between the plants in a row, 40 cm distance is
given. Depending apon the varieties, anthurium is also planted at a distance
of 30 cm x 30 cm, 45 cm x 45 cm or 30 cm x 60 cm or 45 cm x 60 cm.
Dense planting prevents proper air circulation and hinders spray
penetration. To take care of diseases in dense planting systems, rigid leaf
pruning and spray schedule should be followed. Before planting, the roots of
the plant are dipple in 0.1 per cent Bavistin solution. Planting is avoided
during seasons with high rainfall and high tem erature. While planting, the
beds should not be wet but evenly moist. Deep planting should be avoided.
Old leaves and suckers are to be removed regularly. To get more flowers of
good quality and to avoid diseases, retaining four healthy leaves per plant is
ideal.

IRRIGATION
Anturium needs copious watering, depending on the stage of plant
growth, season, pot size and nutrient media. They should be supplemented
with plenty of water during summer and winter. In summer moaths, plants
are to be watered twice daily. Irrigation can be accomplished by flooding
beds or through mist or overhead sprinklers. It is essential to ensure that
plants are compretely dry by mid-afernoon to avoid diseases. Unsightly
deposits on the leaves may coour due to overhead watering with poor quality
water. Concentration of sodium chloride and bicarbonate ions are to be in
an acceptable lower level. To improve poor quality, water should be treated
with water softeners. For anthurium cultivation, rain water is considered to
be the best quality water.

FERTILISERS
Anthurium is benefited by balanced fertilizer application consisiting of
macro- and micro-nutrients like N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and B. Weekly
application of NPK fertilizer 7:11:7 at the rate of 10.5 b/m2 along with
potassium sulphate 0.6 b, calcium nitrate 4.75 b and tnagnesium sulphate 4
g per m2 is recommended. Depending upon the variety, 700 to 1,100 kg N
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per hectares per year is required. Monthly micronutrient spray with 1.0 per
cent each of iron sulphate and sine sulphate and 0.2 per cent each of
manganese sulphate and borax is beneficial. To enhance the vegetative
growth, foliar application of 0.1 per cent urea at monthly intervals is
suggested. Fertilisers can alsobe applied through drip irrigation system.
Calcium deficiency causes colour breakdown disorder in spathe. A level of
0.14 to 0.16 per cent calcium in spathe or -.44 to 055 in leaf was determined
to be the critical level. Supplying calcium (500 kg/ha/year) reduces the
incidence of the colour breakdown disorder.

HORMONAL EFFECTS ON FLOWERING


There is no effect of GA, on flowering of anthurium up to 100 ppm.
Increasing the does of GA3 may be tried. Cytoklnins have been reported to
increase lateral branching in Anthurium andreanum. The impact of this upon
flowering may be to increase yields as a result of the production of more
flowering stems per plant.

HARVESTING AND YIELD


A the flowers mature, a change in colour occurs from the base to the
tip of the spadix within three to four weeks. Spikes are harvested when here-
quarters of the stigma along the spadix have become receptive. The spathe is
completely unfolded by this time. Harvesting at this stage is beneficial for
obtaining the longest shelf life of cut flowers. Flowers are harvested early
morning or late afternoon and are cut with long stalks. Flowers are graded
according to the length of the stalk and diameter of the spathe. The flower
stalk length varies from 25 to 50 cm. As per the average spathe width and
length, the anthurium flowers are grouped as miniate (less than 8 cm), small
(8 to 10 cm), medium (11-13 cm), large (13-15 cm) and extra large (more the
15 cm).
Depending upon the cultural practices, planting density and variety, 5
to 10 flowers can be obtained per plant per year. An average yield of 225000
blooms of exportable quality can be obtained per hectares per year. Average
price of anthurium in Europe is US $1.50 per flower. In the Indian cities,
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prices vary from Rs.15 to Rs.30 per flower in florist shops, while growers get
Rs.6 to Rs.10 per flower.

POST-HARVEST QUALITY REQUIREMENT


The size, shape, colour and texture of the spathe gets prior
consideration. A heart-shaped symmetrical spathe with overlapping or fused
lobes is desirable. In order to facilitate packing, the spadix should be shorter
than the wpathe and reclined artistically and gently. The spate should be
free from any kind of damages and infestation. Straight and sturdy flower
stems with shorter internodes are preferred.

POAT-HARVEST HANDLING OF FLOWERS


Storage of Cut Spikes: These flowers can be stored for 3 to 5 weeks in
water at 130C.
Holding Solution for Lengthening the Life of Cut Spikes: These spikes
generally last for 2 weeks and the vase life can be further increased by few
days using sodium hypcholoride (75 ppm) or benzoic acid (500 ppm) or 7-up
(2.25 per cent) in holding solution with 1 per cent sucrose.
Other Useful Information in Connection With Post-Harvest Life of
Cut Flowers: Flowers are highly sensitive to chilling injury and relatively
insensitive to ethylene. Cut spikes should be kept away from excess heat,
cold and draught. Misting of flowers frequently with water is beneficial.
Wilted flowers can be revived by floating them in water for an hour under
ambient temperature or can be placed in lukewarm water for a few minutes.
Waxing of under flowers lengthens the post-harvest life considerably. For
transport and packaging, impregnation of cut ends of flower stems just after
harvest with 150 ppm STS for 10 minutes is beneficial.

INSECT PESTS AND DISEASES


Insect pests and diseases may be condidered as the major factor that
directly influence hoth productivity and marketability. To control pests and
diseases constitute a very important aspect in the day-to-day management of
anthuriums.
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Insect Pests: The plants are occasionally infested by aphids, scale


insects, mites, thrips, mole cricket and beetles. Aprids suck the juice from
the leaves and cause yellowing and distortion. Spraying with Dinethpate (0.3
per cent) is effective to control aphids. Scale insects attack leaves and stems
and weaken the plants by sucking the plant sap. Malathion (0.1 per cent)
spray controls them. Spider mites make web on the under surface of leaves
and cause yellow mottling. Dicofol (0.05 per cent) or wettable sulphur (0.03
per cent) or Endoulfan spray (0.05 per cent) checks the infestation. Thrips
develop mottling on foliage and flowers through sucking plant sap.
Malathion (0.1 per cent) or Abamectin (0.025 per cent) spray is useful in con
rolling them. Mole cricket is a burrowing insect which reodes the roots of
young plants causing them to wilt and die. Methanol bait pellets or bait
consisting of 10 parts by weight of wheat bran, one part by weight of sodium
fluorosilicate with water added to form paste is emplezed for controlling mole
cricket. Beetles bore holes in leaves and flowers while feeding. Folinat 50 E.
C. at the rate of 1.5 ml/l is effective to control beetles. Snails and slugs also
can se serious damage if left unattended. Metaldehyde baits can control
snails and slugs.
Diseases: Anturiums are infected by some diseases like anthracnose,
leaf spot, powdery mildew, bactcrial blight, mosaic, bactcrial wilt, root rot
and damping off, Anthracnose is a fungus disease in which spadices are
rotten and flowers become unmarketable especially in high humid weather.
Spray of Chlorothalonil (0.1 per cent) Eavistin (0.1 per cent) or Maneb (0.2
per cent) or Indofil M-45 is effective in controlling anthracnose. Leaf spot
produces inegular spot with brown on the leaves. Sometiones adjacent spot
merge. Intense browm spot appear on lamina portion. Application of
Dithane M-45 (0.2 per cent) is effective powdery milden produces white
powdery patches on the lower surface of leaves. Benomyl.

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