1. Plant Disease
  2. Host and Disease Descriptions

Impatiens-Crown Rot (Damping-off)

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Latest revision: 
March 2024

Plants have collapsed due to Rhizoctonia sp.

Photo by Stacy Fisher, 1990.

See:

Greenhouse Plants, Ornamental - Pythium Seed Rot, Damping-off, and Root Rot

Cause Several organisms. A Pythium sp. has been reported from Washington as causing damping-off. The OSU Plant Clinic has found both Pythium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. Pythium is favored by cool, wet soils, Rhizoctonia by warm soils. Rhizoctonia grows across the soil/media surface to attack the base of stems or leaves in contact with the ground. Both Pythium and Rhizoctonia are soilborne pathogens that can survive in infected plant debris in soil or in used pots and flats. The New Guinea impatiens cultivars Aurora, Cosmos, and Twilight are susceptible to both fungi.

Symptoms Wilting, rotted roots, and death are common for either disease. Pythium infections are black and moist and may extend into the basal stem. Blackening of the stem in cross section may also occur. Rhizoctonia-infected tissue is drier, brown, and cracked. A web-like growth may be seen on infected plant parts. Leaves touching the ground may be infected first.

Cultural control

  • Use sterile, pathogen-free potting mix or soil. Also disinfect any tools and equipment that might be used and contaminate the media.
  • Growing media pH should be between 5.6 to 6.4 (except 6.2 to 6.5 for New Guinea impatiens) and temperatures at 73°F. Check regularly to ensure low electrolyte concentration levels.
  • Use new or thoroughly cleaned and disinfected pots and flats or treat with aerated steam for 30 min.
  • Purchase new seed each year, as it will not last over a year even with good seed storage.
  • Do not overwater or let the watering hose touch the ground below greenhouse benches.
  • Rotate flower beds.

Chemical control Focus on cultural controls first. Rotate among fungicides from different groups with different modes of action.

To control Pythium only:

  • Aliette at 1.25 to 4 lb/100 gal water. Do not use with adjuvants. Group P7 fungicide. 24-hr reentry.
  • Areca at 1.25 to 4 lb/100 gal water as a foliar application. Group P7 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Banol at 2 to 3 fl oz/10 gal water. Group 28 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Fosphite at 1 to 2 quarts/100 gal water. Do not use copper products within 20 days of treatment and do not use spray adjuvants. Group P7 fungicide. 4-hr reentry.
  • Mefenoxam 2 AQ at 0.12 to 0.24 fl oz/100 gal water as a soil drench at seeding, at 0.49 to 0.98 fl oz/100 gal water at transplanting, and see label for media incorporation. Resistant isolates have been detected in the Northeast United States. Group 4 fungicide. No restrictions on reentry when used as a soil drench or media incorporation.
  • MetaStar 2E at 0.25 to 0.5 fl oz/100 gal water as a soil drench at seeding, at 0.5 to 2 fl oz/100 gal water at transplanting, and see label for media incorporation. Group 4 fungicide. No restrictions on reentry when used as a soil drench or media incorporation.
  • Monterey Garden Phos at 1 teaspoons/8 gal water as a soil drench. Group P7 fungicide. H
  • Proplant at 2 to 3 fl oz/10 gal water. Group 28 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Subdue MAXX at 0.13 to 0.25 fl oz/100 gal water at seeding, or 0.5 to 1 oz/100 gal water at transplanting. Resistant isolates have been detected in the Northeast United States. Group 4 fungicide. No restrictions on reentry when used as a soil drench.
  • Terrazole 35 WP at 3.5 to 10 oz/100 gal water as a soil drench. Group 14 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.

To control Rhizoctonia only:

  • Banrot 40 WP at 4 to 8 oz/100 gal water. Group 1 + 14 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Broadform at 2 to 8 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 7 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Cleary's 3336 EG at 16 oz/100 gal water as a drench after seeding or transplanting. Inconsistent efficacy. Group 1 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Compass 50 WDG at 0.5 oz/100 gal water. Do not use on New Guinea impatiens or with organosilicate additives. Group 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Empress at 1 to 3 fl oz/100 gal water. May discolor open flowers. Do not tank-mix with a growth regulator. Group 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Fame at 0.2 to 0.6 floz/100 gal water as a soil drench. Group 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Heritage at 1 to 2 oz/100 gal water plus a non-silicone-based wetter sticker. Group 11 fungicide. 4-hr reentry.
  • Medallion WDG at 1 to 2 oz/100 gal water. Use with oils or adjuvants may damage plant. Group 12 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Mural at 2 to 3 oz/100 gal water as a drench. Group 7 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Pageant at 12 to 18 oz/100 gal water. Flowers may become discolored if open. Do not use with organosilicone-based adjuvants. Group 7 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Palladium at 4 to 6 oz/100 gal water. Avoid excessive runoff to small plants, which may result in stunting and/or chlorosis. Group 9 + 12 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Postiva at 10 to 28 fl oz/100 gal water as a drench. Group 3 + 7 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • ProStar 70 WG at 3 to 6 oz/100 gal water. Group 7 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
  • Terraguard SC at 4 to 8 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.

Biological control Use in conjunction with other control tactics such as thorough sanitation.

  • RootShield Plus Granules (Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain T-22 and T. virens strain G-41) at 1 to 3 lb/ cubic yard soil mix. No restrictions on reentry required when soil incorporated. O
  • Bio-Tam 2.0 or Tenet WP or Obtego (Trichoderma asperellum and T. gamsii) at 0.5 to 1.5 lb/cubic yard of substrate. See label for details and other application methods. No restrictions on reentry when soil incorporated. O

References Castillo, S. and Peterson, J.L. 1990. Cause and control of crown rot of New Guinea impatiens. Plant Disease 74:77-79.

Harman. G.E. 2000. Myths and dogmas of biocontrol. Plant Disease 84:377-393.