Reddish-brown dead areas develop at the soil line and girdle the plant. Rhizoctonia solani Plant in pasteurized soil or a soilless mix free of the pathogen. Stunt Symptoms vary with the cultivar infected. Young leaves are light green and very upright. Plants are stunted to half their normal height at maturity.
Infected plants flower prematurely and flower size is reduced.
Some cultivars exhibit small dead spots or flecks on the leaves. Chrysanthemum stunt viroid Purchase virus-indexed plants that are free of the pathogen. Destroy infected plants and disinfest tools used to handle them. Do not handle healthy chrysanthemums after handling infected plants. The margins of lower leaves wilt and die.