Poinsettia scab causing stretch symptoms

Some U.S. poinsettia growers are reporting cases of plant stretch caused by poinsettia scab, reports Cornell Univ. plant pathologist Margery Daughtrey. Caused by the fungus Sphaceloma poinsettiae, the disease is very contagious during propagation. Splashing water from overhead irrigation can help to spread the fungus between plants. It can affect both stems and leaves. This can lead to epidemic losses. If plants with stem lesions of scab at this stage are not removed, they eventually begin to show abnormal internode elongation. During this period of elongated growth the chance of spread of the disease is minimal. If only a few plants show the stretched growth remove and destroy the infected plants.

Pictured: Poinsettia scab can cause stretched growth of plant stems.
Photo courtesy of American Phytopathological Society