The disease’s namesake is the aster leafhopper, an insect that spreads the aster yellows pathogen.
The bad news is that there is no treatment once a plant is infected.
But there are several things you’re free to do to prevent aster yellows from spreading.
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Key Facts
What Is Aster Yellows Disease?
It also hurts flowers like asters, coneflowers, marigolds, chrysanthemums, petunias, and snapdragons.
Symptoms of Aster Yellows
Depending on the plant species, aster yellows symptoms are different.
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Flowers susceptible to the disease are anemone, delphinium, periwinkle, petunia, snapdragon, and veronica.
It is a problem because aster yellows in weeds spread to desirable plants.
How Aster Yellows Spreads
The aster leafhopper spreads the pathogen in aster yellow.
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The aster leafhopper does not survive in climates with subzero winters.
In the spring, aster leafhoppers move north from their overwintering locations along the Gulf of Mexico.
The occurrence of the aster yellows is directly connected to the aster leafhopper population in any given year.
The Spruce / K. Dave
There is no cure, treatment, pesticide, or insecticide to control aster yellows.
Thats why early diagnosis is crucial.
The aster yellows pathogen wont survive on a dead plant, so that you may compost infected plants.
Aster Yellows Prevention
The tricky thing with aster yellows is that it does not kill a plant.
You might be inclined to leave an infected plant in your garden, especially if its a perennial.
All it takes is an aster leafhopper feeding on that plant.
Therefore, you should remove any infected perennialslandscape plants and weedsfrom your garden.
Mechanical barriers can be used to protect plants from the aster leafhopper.
Light-colored or reflectivemulchesor foils disorient the insects so they wont feed on the plants.
Floating row covers, mesh fabrics, or fine wire mesh may protect vegetables.
Aster yellows.University of Minnesota Extension
Texas Plant Disease Handbook.Texas A&M University Extension
