Dahlias: what is LEAFY GALL?

Leafy gall is a serious condition of dahlias and other plants. Recognising the condition and taking appropriate action can help limit the potential damage.
Part of our series on Dahlia growing.
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Seeds, cuttings, tubers,: what's the difference • Dahlias: Seeds, cuttin...
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[@bradtisch7803]

Thanks for making this video. As a beginner to dahlia growing, I keep hearing about gall, but I never knew what to look for. This is really comprehensive and helpful. Too bad those tubers are infected, especially that clump of “Ambition” tubers. That is a really impressive clump of tubers.😢

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thanks Brad for your kind comment. I hope you never see gall in the flesh!

[@mattorsheanabehringer8283]

Thank you. I am in my second year growing dahlia. Just pulled and found some weird looking tubers….now I know. Appreciate your work.

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thank you for your kind comment. I am sorry you have some Leafy Gall this season and hope you have a great season next year.

[@joinmeinthedirt5186]

Great information I will for sure check my tubers better when I get them this spring.

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thanks! Kind of you to comment.

[@monicaxyooj905]

I stumbled upon your channel by chance. I will go inspect my dahlia after watching this as a newbie. 😂❤

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Monica, yes other growers are reporting a high incidence this season here in the uk good luck with yours.

[@JoceyDee]

Thank you so much for this. It was very educational! I am new to growing dahlias and have purchased a number of tubers. Can leafy gall be on present on the body of the tuber and not at the neck?

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Josey, thanks for your question.
As you probably know Leafy Gall caused by a bacterial infection, and this is thought to gain entry through wounds in the tuber's skin. Once inside it affects only meristematic tissue - the buds and early shoots, disrupting their growth pattern. The effects are seen as overgrowth and distortion of the shoots, where they emerge from the tuber.
So the answer to your question is Yes it can be present in the tuber and there are no visible signs until growth starts.
Once a tuber in infected there is no cure and it should be destroyed, together with some nearby soil to try to limit spread.
Hope this helps,, and good luck with your growing.

[@simangelemariemkhize5831]

Thank you for this information. Without digging the tubers, how would one know that a dahlia has leafy gall? I'm new in planting dahlias.

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi thanks for your question. If you take a close look at the crown after cutting the upper part of the plant away, you will see the typical proliferation of young shoots. A close look and an experienced eye is needed.
Good luck with you growing!

[@yesidtac7863]

Buen vlog

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thanks Yesid

[@catherinejones6537]

Hi
Can any of the tubers be saved if there is gall on some
Thx

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your very good question. I've looked and so far have not found any trials to give a science based answer, but I have formulated a "working" answer from my own experience and the published data.
The short answer is "maybe".
The longer answer is that the disease can of course recur in tubers from the same plant which appear normal on division as the organism is transmissible (and also can be present in the soil). But for bacterial infections the organism can be localized, and therefore healthy looking tubers may escape. Viruses are different in that they usually infect every cell in the plant, so there is no escape, plants must be destroyed.
So in a practical way, my decision to discard or save a tuber is based on how precious the variety is. If it were an irreplaceable treasured plant then certainly plant up single tubers in isolation and keep fingers crossed. If it were an easily replaceable (eg commercial) tuber, I would discard and re-purchase new tubers.
If anyone DOES know a definitively tested answer I would love to hear it too!

[@socalmingtowatchandsuchawe4281]

On the plant where you illustrated the gall growth the greater part of the plant ‘looked’ healthy. As a cancer can be cut out with a margin of healthy flesh, could you not have tried this as any eventual new growth might not show this infection?@@MoorfieldFarmFlowers