Cause Several soil-inhabiting or seed-contaminating fungi or fungus-like microorganisms such as Pythium spp., 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 spp. only. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Apron XL (Group 4) at 0.085 to 0.64 fl oz/100 lb seed. Controls Pythium spp. only. 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.