Pythium is a genus of fungus-like parasites commonly known as water molds. These parasites naturally exist in soil and water and affect a wide range of hosts. They can survive a long time on decaying plant matter and be spread through water, soil, insects, and transplants, although their damage tends to be focused on the affected area and doesn’t spread as much as other pathogens. These parasites are highly dependent on environmental conditions to develop. A broad genus means broad preferences, so some have a high incidence in ornamental flowers and herbs, while others tend more toward crops. This makes them economically important since agricultural and greenhouse plants can be affected. They are hard to control in greenhouses that grow plants without soil and tend to affect mostly cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers.
Pythium Disease In Plants
Signs of damage
- Root rot in mature plants.
- Damping off. Newly emerged seedlings are killed. They’ll look water soaked and have a soft brown lesion at the base of the stem.
- Wilting in young plants. This will happen once the weather begins to get warmer and sunny.
- Necrosis. Dark lesions in root tips.
- Peeling off in larger roots.
How to prevent
Crop rotation alone usually doesn’t eradicate this parasite. Optimal growing conditions should be employed, making plants less susceptible to this and other parasites.
Choose well-drained soil, check the temperatures of the roots and maintain them within the requirements for each plant. Also, avoid any root damage, as this weakens the plants and becomes the gateway for Pythium outbreaks.
Avoid overwatering and trade untreated water from lakes or ponds with treated tap water since these are regulated and safe.
Good aeration between plants, especially in places like greenhouses, will reduce spreading, as well as keep the spaces sanitized and free of any debris.
Heal
Remove and destroy severely damaged plants, usually by burning or burying them deep. You can use fungicides, although Pythium is known for resisting some of the common active ingredients.
If possible, professional advice is the safest option for choosing the best recovery path.
Go Premium to continue reading
Also you’ll get unlimited access to disease identification and all the other beneficial features
More problems
Leotiomycetes
Leotiomycetes is a class of fungus that is inserted in the Ascomycota phylu...
Pentatomidae
Pentatomidae is an insect family with over 4700 species. They’re part of th...
Bacterial leaf spot
This bacterial disease is caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria,...
Phyllosticta Leaf Spot in Plants
Phyllosticta Leaf Spot is a common plant disease that affects the leaves of...
Whant to know more?