Discrimination and Prevention of Horseshoe Physiological Red Tail and Horseshoe Rod Blight
July 06 08:31:51, 2025
Horseshoe physiological red tail is a common plant disorder caused by long-term depletion of essential micronutrients such as boron, zinc, iron, and manganese in the soil. This condition primarily affects the tail section of the horseshoe stalk, causing uniform yellowing without any distinct spots. On the other hand, horseshoe stem blight typically occurs during the late growth stage, from September to October. The disease thrives in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, and it mainly damages the leaf sheaths, stems, and flowers. Initially, the affected areas appear water-soaked, then turn dark green before eventually drying out. As the disease progresses, the entire plant wilts and dies. It often starts from a central point and spreads outward. Infected leaves usually show black spots, and under high humidity, a faint gray mold may develop on their surface. The disease can spread through wind, water, and contaminated soil.
To manage physiological red tail, early prevention is key. In fields with severe symptoms, 2–3 kg of a multi-element boron fertilizer or a boron-zinc-iron-magnesium blend should be applied per acre. Foliar sprays are also effective. Mix 100 grams of a ten-element boron fertilizer with 150 grams of potassium dihydrogen phosphate in 50–60 kg of water and spray the stems and leaves every 5–7 days for 1–3 applications.
For horseshoe stem blight, start with disease-free seeds. Before planting, treat seedlings with a solution of 25% emulsifiable concentrate (EC) at 100 grams per 100 liters, combined with 50% carbendazim or 70% thiophanate methyl at 1500 times dilution. Soak the bulbs for 12–24 hours, dry them, and spray once before transplanting. Soak the seedlings in the same solution for more than 6 hours, and remove any weak or diseased plants.
Proper cultivation practices are crucial. Ensure balanced planting density and proper water and nutrient management throughout the growing stages. Pay special attention to the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, particularly increasing phosphorus and potassium levels. Avoid excessive nitrogen application and ensure timely removal of diseased leaves, plants, and stalks, burning them in concentrated areas. Crop rotation, especially in old fields, should last for more than three years to effectively control the disease.
Chemical control is also recommended. For fields without visible symptoms, apply protective sprays. When the disease first appears, use products like Good Think, Love Miao, R&F Library, Enemy Off, Shi Bao Gong, Wei Wei, or Enemy Forces. Rotate between these agents as needed, applying them every 7–10 days for 2–3 consecutive times. A small amount of neutral detergent or a spreading agent can be added to improve the adhesion and effectiveness of the spray solution.
Also known as pigments, are a type of substance that improves the sensory properties of food after coloring. Edible pigments can be divided into two categories according to their properties and sources: edible natural pigments and edible synthetic pigments.
1. Edible synthetic pigments are artificial synthetic pigments. The characteristics of edible synthetic pigments: bright colors, stable properties, strong coloring power, high fastness, can obtain any color, low cost, and easy to use.
2. Edible natural pigments, edible natural pigments are mainly pigments extracted from animal and plant tissues. However, the composition of natural pigments is relatively complex, and the effects of purified natural pigments may be different from the original ones.