Growers are blaming poor practice abroad for the influx of plant diseases in the UK. Downy mildew, sudden oak death, vine weevil, stem necrosis, bleeding canker: there seems to be a Hammer House of Horror of diseases hitting the horticulture industry. Last week's Horticulture Week revealed growers fears that seed importer Ball Colegrave had brought impatiens downy mildew into the UK. Threats by new diseases to profitable plants like impatiens (downy mildew). Rhododendron (sudden oak death) and Chrysanthemum (stem necrosis), as well as Phytoptithora cactorum hitting Aesculus hippocastanum and attacks of the vine weevil Otiorhynchus armadillo. are knocking confidence in products and may hit growers profits.
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