Diseases of Lily

Abstract

Lilies (Lilium spp. and hybrids) are the second largest flower bulb crop in the Netherlands and the most important flower bulb crop in the world. They are grown for bulbs, as cut flowers, as container (potted) plants, or in gardens. Lilies are a vegetatively propagated crop and may be routinely increased by micropropagation (tissue culture) or through scaling (removal of bulb scales from which adventitious bulblets are produced). The propagules are subsequently grown in fields for 2 or 3 y to allow the bulbs to reach sufficient size (generally measured in circumference) for proper flowering and maximum horticultural quality. Although the majority of bulbs produced for worldwide distribution are grown mainly in the Netherlands, bulbs are also grown in other northern European countries, the USA, Asia, Israel, and southern hemisphere locations including Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Chile. There are a number of diseases caused by fungi, viruses, bacteria, and nematodes and physiological disorders that affect the production and quality of lily bulb and cut flower crops worldwide. Information on the distribution, epidemiology and management, of the common diseases and disorders is presented in this chapter.