Vegetable Disease Identification: Parsnips

Alan McNab
Professor of Plant Pathology

PARSNIP DISEASES

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Canker and Leaf Spot are caused by the same fungus, Itersonilia perplexans. Leaf spots appear as small silvery areas. These areas enlarge to irregular shapes and become brown with an indistinct dark border. Cankers are more prevalent near the shoulder of the root. The cankers begin where rootlets are attached to the taproot. Affected areas are first brown to reddish-brown; they later become black as cankers develop and as affected areas become depressed. The causal fungus overwinters in "field-stored" parsnips and possibly in residue from diseased plants. Disease is promoted by cool wet conditions.

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Last modified Tuesday, March 6, 2007