Anthracnose of Lupins

Colletotrichum spp.

Main symptoms: Dead patches of brown tissue on leaves and stems, often covered in orange spores. ‘Corkscrewing’ of leaf stalks.

Lupin anthracnose is a fungal disease of the leaves and stems. It is spread from plant to plant by rain-splashed spores, and is therefore particularly damaging in wet weather. Affected plants are not usually killed, but can become very unsightly as a result of severe leaf-spotting and dieback.

Lupins suffering from lupin anthracnose will look unsightly;

  • Brown areas of dead tissue (necrotic lesions) on leaf blades, leaf stalks, stems, flower stalks and seed pods
  • Under wet conditions the fungus produces a slimy mass of orange-coloured spores on the surface of the affected areas
  • Affected leaf stalks will sometimes coil several times to give a ‘corkscrew’ appearance, which is very characteristic of anthracnose
  • Severely affected leaves may shrivel and turn brown
  • The growth of stems and flower stalks may become distorted, or they may collapse completely, due to points of weakness caused by the lesions

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