Bacterial Canker

Bacterial canker is caused by Corynebacterium poinsettiae. It is not as wide spread today as in the past, probably due to healthier rooted cuttings and use of an irrigation systems that keep above ground plant parts dry.

The most prominent symptoms are water-soaked areas on the lower stem or narrow water-soaked streaks often extending several centimeters along branches. These lesions are associated with exuded droplets of latex that dry to form pale yellow or golden crusts. Infected plants frequently have malformed, small bracts, are stunted and retarded slightly in development. Under conditions of low moisture, marginal wilting of leaves has been observed. Severely diseased branches may be girdled and die. Plants may grow out of visible symptoms yet retain internal low populations of the bacteria. Cuttings taken from these plants frequently show disease symptoms in later stages of production. This disease is occasionally seen in late stages of finishing.

The disease is spread by vegetative propagation cuttings from apparently healthy plants. The bacteria can also be spread during pinching and on knives when taking cuttings.

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