Impatiens Downy Mildew

Hosts

Downy mildew affects all hybrids and varieties of Impatiens walleriana (gardening impatiens), also called busy Lizzie. Other species of impatiens that are susceptible include Impatiens balsamina (balsam impatiens, garden balsam and rose balsam) and native wild impatiens Impatiens pallida and I. capensis (Jewelweed). There is currently no evidence for seed-borne transmission of the downy mildew pathogen on impatiens. Note that New Guinea impatiens, Impatiens x hawkeri, are considered very tolerant, and the disease is yet to be reported on this host in Florida.

Symptoms

Young plants and new growth are most susceptible and typically show symptoms first. Initially, leaves may look a little yellowish or speckled (Figure 1). In fact, these symptoms can look very similar to nutritional deficiencies. Faint gray lines may be seen on the tops of leaves, or leaf edges may curl downward (Figure 2). Sometimes the yellowing is not visible before leaf curling begins.

As the disease continues to progress, whitish, downy looking growth is visible on the undersides of leaves (Figure 3). This whitish growth consists of spore-containing structures that have emerged from the lower leaf pores (stomata). Next, leaves and flowers will drop quickly, leaving mostly stems (Figure 4).

Life Cycle of the Pathogen

The pathogen that causes downy mildew is a type of water mold and more closely related to algae than to fungi. Other similarly classified pathogens include Phytophthora and Pythium spp. Downy mildew pathogens can spread by two different types of spores. One type, zoospores, moves through water. Sporangia that contain and can release zoospores are easily windborne. This explains why this disease is spread by splashing overhead irrigation, rainfall, and wind. The other type of spore, the oospore, forms inside plant tissues, where the pathogen can survive for years. Downy mildew is very aggressive and can rapidly spread, so action should be taken quickly if it is found.

Nursery Management

It is critical that high levels of sanitation be maintained in the nursery. Plugs or any other Impatiens walleriana plants brought into the nursery should be carefully inspected and rejected if they appear diseased. Hard surfaces in the growing area between crops should be sanitized with quaternary ammonia compounds (e.g., Greenshield, KleenGrow, etc). All impatiens plant tissue should be removed between crops and should not be composted. Plant debris should be disposed of in dumpsters that are emptied off-site.

Frequent scouting for this pathogen should be conducted, especially as evening temperatures cool. High relative humidity in Florida makes downy mildew extremely difficult to control. Plants should be spaced to allow as much air movement between them as possible to hasten leaf drying after irrigation or rainfall.

If affected plants are detected, they should be quickly removed and any fallen leaves and flowers from growing areas should be disposed of off-site. Treat remaining plants with preventive fungicides as indicated in Table 1. Wash hands thoroughly after handling problematic plants and before handling non-affected impatiens.

Landscape Management

This pathogen may erupt under high humidity, cool temperatures, and overcrowding. Overcrowding reduces the wind movement between plants that helps leaves to dry more quickly. Prevention is the only effective management strategy against downy mildew. Elimination of overhead and nighttime watering, excessive fertilization, overcrowded planting beds, and other stresses on the plants would all be very helpful in avoiding or reducing occurrence of this pathogen. However, our tightly arranged mass planting practices in the landscape, coupled with whole-farm irrigation systems and periodic rainfall often make ideal conditions difficult to achieve. Inspect impatiens leaves and stems before purchasing plants for the landscape and before installing them, and reject any affected plants. Scouting will not entirely eliminate the risk of downy mildew because windborne spores can still infect healthy plants, but it is always better to avoid introducing the pathogen to the landscape on new plant materials.

Impatiens showing early symptoms of downy mildew should be removed and thrown away off-site, and any surrounding impatiens should be treated with a protective fungicide. When pulling out an infected impatiens landscape planting, attempt to remove as much plant tissue as possible from the planting bed, which will help to reduce inoculum of the pathogen (e.g., oospores). Consider replacing heavily diseased plantings of impatiens with another bedding plant species that is not susceptible to downy mildew.

Fungicide Resistance Management

Resistance to a fungicide occurs when a pathogen develops a genetic mutation at the target site that reduces its sensitivity to a specific fungicide. Using a single fungicide repeatedly over time suppresses only the portion of the pathogen population sensitive to that fungicide, with the result that only the resistant portion of the population remains. This population will go on to reproduce and become the majority. Eventually, the fungicide becomes ineffective because the majority of the population is no longer susceptible to it. If a pathogen is resistant to a fungicide, it is usually resistant to all fungicides in that class.

To minimize the potential for fungicide resistance, the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) provides codes to facilitate proper rotation of chemical families that have similar modes of action. FRAC codes make proper fungicide rotation easy and are included with the chemical recommendations in this fact sheet (Table 1). When purchasing fungicides for managing downy mildew, fungicides with different FRAC codes should be selected and the manufacturer's label followed.

Non-commercial Homeowner Recommendations

The landscape management recommendations described above should be followed and the fungicides listed in Table 2 can be used.

For the management of downy mildew in the nursery and landscape, professional use fungicides are listed in Table 1.