Diseases of Escarole, Endive, and Radicchio

Members of the Asteraceae family, escarole, and endive (Cichorium endivia), grow as open-faced rosettes and are typically used for their leafy greens. Radicchio (C. intybus), with its colorful white-red leaves, forms a bitter to spicy tasting head similar to lettuce. With the growing popularity of international cuisine, all three Cichorium species are experiencing a surge in production. These salad crops experience relatively few disease problems. Alternaria leaf spot, powdery mildew, white mold, and bottom rot are the most important fungal diseases, with others being only of limited or geographical importance. Downy mildew is the most important oomycete disease. Bacterial leaf spot, caused by Pseudomonas cichorii, is the most important bacterial disease, along with bacterial soft rot. Lettuce mosaic, tomato spotted wilt, and impatiens necrotic spot are the most important viral diseases of Cichorium, with a plethora of others being of minor or localized importance. Root-knot nematode is the most important nematode pathogen, and tipburn is overwhelmingly the most important abiotic disorder.