Cause Several soil fungi or fungus-like microorganisms can cause damping-off including Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium acuminatum. The fungi can persist on infected plant debris or as saprophytes on other plant species. Conditions unfavorable for seedling growth promote the disease.
Symptoms Young plants may die before breaking through the soil (preemergence damping-off). After emergence, young seedlings will shrivel and collapse at the ground line (post-emergence damping-off).
Cultural control
- Seed should be fully mature when planted.
- Avoid over irrigation, and improve soil drainage.
- Plant when soil is warm to facilitate rapid germination and emergence.
Chemical control
- Treat seed with:
- Acquire at 0.75 to 1.5 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. For control of Pythium only. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Allegiance-FL at 0.75 to 1.5 fl oz/100 lb seed when Pythium is a problem. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Apron XL at 0.64 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye when Pythium is a problem. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Captan 4L at 8 fl oz/100 lb seed.
- Maxim 4FS at 0.08 to 0.16 fl oz/100 lb seed. For control of pathogenic Fusarium and Rhizoctonia spp. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Mertect at 0.004 mg ai/seed (5.8 fl oz/100 lb seed) plus a dye. To control pathogenic Fusarium spp.
- Ridomil Gold SL at 0.25 pint/A. Do not feed green forage or cut hay for 60 days after application. See label for reentry restrictions.
Biological control
- Bexfond at 7 to 14 fl oz/A. O