Hops Plant Diseases: A Guide for Young Farmers
Hops are a popular crop for homebrewers and commercial breweries alike. They add a distinctive flavor and aroma to beer, and they can be grown in a variety of climates. However, hops plants are susceptible to a number of diseases, which can reduce yields and even kill the plants.
Common Hops Plant Diseases
- Black root rot is a fungal disease that causes water lesions on the roots of hops plants, blackened or yellow leaves, and wilting stems.
- Fusarium canker is a fungal disease that forms cankers at the base of the bine, accompanied by the sudden wilting of the bines when flowering or when temperatures soar.
- Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that causes yellowing of the leaf tissue along with swollen bines whose interior tissue becomes discolored.
- Downy mildew is a fungal disease that causes stunted, brittle shoots, brown and curled hop flowers, and mottled brown lesions with a yellow halo on the underside of leaves.
- Gray mold is a fungal disease that creates cone tip lesions that turn from tan to dark brown, and may spread to the entire cone, becoming a gray fuzzy mold.
- Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that causes white powdery fungus to develop on the leaves, stems, and cones of hops plants.
- Crown rot is a fungal disease that causes a red to orange discoloration on the interior tissues of the plant, resulting in uneven root growth, yellow leaves, and climbing stems lacking in lateral branching.
- White mold is a fungal disease that leaves water-soaked lesions on the stem below the soil line, yellow leaves, and gray lesions with white fungus on the diseased tissues.
- Sooty mold is a fungal disease that causes a flat, black layer of mold on the leaves and cones of hops plants, resulting in wilting bines, leaf death, and reduced cone quality.
- Mosaic virus is a virus that is transmitted by aphids, causing yellow and green leaf mottling between the leaf veins and overall stunted growth.
Treating Hops Plant Diseases
Fungal diseases of hops plants can be treated with a fungicide. It is important to identify the specific disease that is affecting your plants before applying a fungicide, as some fungicides are only effective against certain types of fungi.
To prevent the spread of fungal diseases, keep the lower portions of the hop garden weeded and pruned back to allow light and air to penetrate. Using drip irrigation can also be helpful, as many fungal diseases are fostered by wet conditions on leaves and bines.
Aphid infestations can be treated with insecticidal soap. Once the aphids are under control, the sooty mold will also disappear.
Preventing Hops Plant Diseases
The best way to prevent hops plant diseases is to start with healthy plants and to provide them with good growing conditions. Hops plants should be planted in well-drained soil that receives full sun. They should be watered regularly, but not overwatered.
It is also important to rotate your hops crop each year to prevent the build-up of soilborne diseases.
Conclusion
Hops plant diseases can be a challenge, but they can be managed with proper care and attention. By following the tips in this article, you can help your hops plants stay healthy and productive.
