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Plant Diseases/plant disease

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Expert: John Cawly - 4/21/2008


Question
My outdoor pansies have black spots on their leaves and some of them are dying. My aloe vera was outside and now it has black spots too and looks poorly.

Answer
Hi Gennie,

Have you had an unusually wet spring?  These conditions provide ideal conditions for fungal spore germinations.  The aloe plants also can have ring spots or black spots that are related to both bacterial and fungal diseases.

I am afraid that without more information, I cannot answer your questions well.  I can examine photos if you have them.  They can be sent to me at:

jdcawly@mckendree.edu

Sorry not to have been more help.  

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Volunteer

John Cawly

Expertise

I can help with identification and possible treatment of plant diseases that affect houseplants and horticultural species, to include both biological (fungal, bacterial, viral, parasitic etc.) and environmental/cultural (watering, potting media, etc.) aspects.

Experience

Practical experience with a wide variety of houseplants and greenhouse plants, including cacti, euphorbia, african violets, amaryllus, and many others.

Organizations
American Phytopathology Society
American Society of Plant Biologists
American Society for Virology

Publications
Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (in print)
Rhodora -- Journal of the New England Botanical Society
Allelopathy Journal

Education/Credentials
BS, Southern Illinois University - Biological Sciences
MS, Southern Illinois University -- Biological Sciences - Genetic Engineering Specialization
PhD, University of Missouri Columbia -- Plant Microbiology and Pathology
(Viral Diseases specialization/Biotechnology Emphasis)

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