Cause Several soil-inhabiting or seed-contaminating fungus-like microorganisms such as Pythium and Globisporangium spp. as well as the fungi Fusarium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. Any soil condition that prevents rapid germination and emergence increases the possibility of seed rot, damping-off, or seedling blight.
Symptoms Seeds may decay in soil, or seedlings may become blighted by underground attack. Stands are thin and uneven or missing in small to large areas.
Cultural control
- Plant when soil conditions favor seeds' rapid germination and emergence.
- Rotations to fallow, legumes, rapeseed, potato, and crops other than grain or grass species may help reduce the severity of disease.
Chemical control
- Treat seed with:
- Allegiance-FL (Group 4) at 0.75 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls Pythium and Globisporangium spp. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Apron XL (Group 4) at 0.085 to 0.64 fl oz/100 lb seed. Controls Pythium and Globisporangium spp. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Captan 4L ST (Group M4) at 8.2 oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls a broad spectrum of fungi.
- Maxim 4FS (Group 12) at 0.08 to 0.16 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls pathogenic Fusarium, Helminthosporium, and Rhizoctonia spp. 12-hr reentry.
- 42-S Thiram (Group M3) at 8 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls a broad spectrum of fungi. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Vitaflo 280 (Group 7 + M3) at 3.3 to 12 fl oz/100 lb seed. Oregon only (SLN OR-240014). For export only.