Phytophthora > Identify, Control & Disease Prevention Tips

Phytophthora

Phytophthora is the most common and dangerous disease of garden crops, affecting all aerial plant organs. Fungal microorganisms cause the infection as their spores quickly spread over the area under favorable conditions. The danger of the fungus lies in its high viability.

Spores settle everywhere on the summer cottage: on inventory, on the soil, on buildings, and on garden crops. They can be dormant for several years. The disease is characterized by rapid flow and spread and a high percentage of death of infected plants. Phytophthora has the ability to destroy not only the bushes themselves but the entire crop in a few days as well. Thickening of plantings due to insufficient ventilation and illumination increases the probability of being affected by a fungus.

Shady, wet thickets are a favorite habitat of phytophthora. A sharp fluctuation of temperature indicators with a significant fluctuation of them forms dew, which speeds up the progress of the disease.

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Signs of damage

The appearance of brown spots on the stems and leaves;
Whitish plaque that forms on the undersides of the leaves;
Damage to fruits, including spotting, rotting, and deterioration of taste qualities.

How to prevent

The lack of preventive measures significantly contributes to the occurrence of the disease. Choosing disease-resistant varieties and hybrids, avoiding temperature fluctuations, watering plants under the root, following the planting scheme and periodic thinning, and prophylactic spraying with antifungal drugs or fungicides will help reduce the risk of disease. The most common and most effective fungicides, for example, the Bordeaux mixture, contain copper.

Remember that the absence of fungus in your own area is not a guarantee that it will not be present in your neighbors.

Heal

If the plants are already infected, take measures immediately. Phytophthora treatment is a long and time-consuming process, which is not always successful. It is easier to carry out preventive treatments.

High temperatures have been used to control Phytophthora in many ways. Steam heat is effective to kill Phytophthora in contaminated soil, media or on planting containers such as pots. If you re-use pots you can soak pre-cleaned pots in hot water of 180°F(80˚C) for at least 30 min or use aerated steam of 140°F (60˚C) for 30 min.

When the disease is detected, remove the affected fruits and spray the plants with fungicides, which can be divided into two groups: contact and systemic. Systemic fungicides are more effective – they penetrate the plant tissue and protect it from the inside.

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