# Horticulture/Dahlia

Dahlia :
| Genus: | Dahlia |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Type: | Tender perennials |
| Pollination: | Insect |
Dahlia is a genus of bushy, summer- and autumn-flowering, tuberous perennials that are originally from Mexico, where they are the national flower.

## Description

In 1872 a box of Dahlia roots were sent from Mexico to the Netherlands. Only one plant survived the trip, but produced spectacular red flowers with pointed petals. Nurserymen bred from this plant, which was named Dahlia juarezii with parents of Dahlias discovered earlier and these are the progenitors of all modern Dahlia hybrids. Ever since, plant breeders have been actively breeding Dahlias to produce thousands of cultivars, usually chosen for their stunning and brightly coloured flowers. Dahlia plants range in height from as low as 12" (30 cm) to as tall as 6–8 feet (180–240 cm). The flowers can be as small as 2" (5 cm) or up to a foot (30 cm) in diameter. The great variety results from Dahlias being octoploids (they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes, whereas most plants have only two).

## Pests and diseases

Dahlias are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Angle Shades, Common Swift, Ghost Moth and Large Yellow Underwing. Crown Gall
* Agrobacterium tumeifasciens
Wilt
* Pseudomonas solanacearum
Rot (Bacteriosis)
* Erwinnia carotovora
Powdery Mildew
* Erysiphe cichoracearum
* Erysiphe polygoni
Leaf Spots
Gray Mold
Blight
* Botrytis cinerea
Wilts
* Fusarium
* Verticillium albo-atrum
Stem Rots
* Pellicularia filamentosa
* Pellicularia rolfsii
* Pythium debaryanum
* Pythium oedochilum
* Pythium ultimum
* Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Soft Rots
Smuts
* Entyloma dahliae: Dahlia Smut
Viruses
* Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus
* Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
* Cucumber Mosaic Virus
* Dahlia Mosaic Virus
Nematodes
* Meliodgyne haple
* Meliodgyne incognita
* Potato Rot Nematode: Ditylenchus destructor:
Aphids
* Buckthorn Aphid: Aphis nasturtii
* Bean Aphid: Aphis fabae
* Foxglove Aphid: Acyrthosiphon solani
* Green Peach Aphid: Myzus persicae
* Leaf Curling Plum Aphid: Brachycaudus helichrysi
* Melon Aphid: Aphis gossypii
Hoppers
* Rose Leafhopper: Edwardsiana rosa
* Leafhopper: Empoascus fabae
* Treehopper: Entylia carinata
* Potato Leafhopper: Empoasca fabae
Mealybugs
* Citrus Mealybug: Planococcus citri
Whiteflies
* Greenhouse Whitefly: Trialeurodes vaporariorum
* Mulberry Whitefly: Tetraleurodes mori
* Silverleaf Whitefly: Bemisia argentifolii
Bugs
* Capsid Bugs
* Fourlined Plant Bug: Poecilocapsus lineatus
* Tarnished Plant Bug: Lygus lineolaris
Earwigs
* European Earwig: Forficula auricularia
Thrips
* Greenhouse Thrips: Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis
* Flower Thrips: Frankliniella thricti
* Tobacco Thrips: Frankliniella fusca
* Onion Thrips: Thrips tabaci
Beetles
* Blister Beetles: Epicauta spp.:
* Spotted Cucumber Beetle: Diabrotica undecimipunctata
* Japanese Beetle: Popillia japonica
* Oriental Beetle: Exomala orientalis
* Rose Chafer: Macrodactylus subspinosus
Caterpillars
* Burdock Borer: Papaipema arctivorens
* Corn Earworm: Heliothis zea
* European Corn Borer: Ostrinia nubilalis
* Greenhouse Leaf Tier: Udea rubigalis
* Saddleback Caterpillar: Sibine stimulea
* Stalk Borer: Papaipema nebris
Wasps
* Giant Hornet: Vespa crabro germana
Mites
* Broad Mite: Polyphagotarsonemus latus
* Bulb Mite: Rhizoglyphus echinopus
* Cyclamen Mite: Steneotarsonemus pallidus
* Two-Spotted Spider Mite: Tetranychus urticae
Slugs