Cause Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani are soil-infesting microbes that can build up rapidly and attack young germinating seedlings when soil is moist.
Symptoms Stems are attacked as young plants emerge. Plants wilt, fall over, and die. Germinating seed also can be attacked, rotting plants before they reach the soil surface.
Cultural control Manage the crop to promote rapid and vigorous seedling growth.
Chemical control
- Use seed treatment.
- Acquire (Group 4) at 0.75 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. For control of Pythium only. Do not apply to spinach to be grown in the greenhouse. 24-hr reentry.
- Allegiance-FL (Group 4) at 0.75 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls Pythium only. Do not apply to spinach to be grown in the greenhouse. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Apron XL (Group 4) at 0.085 to 0.64 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls Pythium only. Do not apply to spinach to be grown in the greenhouse. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Captan 4F (Group M4) at 6.6 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye.
- Dynasty (Group 11) at 0.1 to 0.38 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. 4-hr reentry.
- Maxim 4FS (Group 12) at 0.08 to 0.16 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. Controls pathogenic Rhizoctonia spp. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Mertect 340-F (Group 1) at 0.006 mg ai/seed plus a dye. To control pathogenic Fusarium spp.
- 42-S Thiram (Group M3) at 8 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. See label for reentry restrictions.
- MetaStar 2E AG (Group 4) at 4 to 8 pints/A as a preplant or at planting treatment. Controls Pythium spp. 48-hr reentry.
- Orondis Gold (Group 40 + 4) at 13.9 to 27.8 fl oz/A as an in-furrow, transplant water or banded soil application at planting. May be applied through drip after emergence. Preharvest interval is 21 days. 48-hr reentry.
- Quadris Flowable (Group 11) at 0.4 to 0.8 fl oz/1000 row feet applied in a 7-inches or less band either in-furrow at planting or as a directed spray at cultivation. 4-hr reentry.
- Ridomil Gold SL (Group 4) at 1 to 2 pints/A preplant incorporated in top 2 inches of soil or as a soil spray at planting. Controls Pythium only. 48-hr reentry.
Biological control
- Actinovate AG at 3 to 12 oz/A as a soil drench at planting. 4-hr reentry. O
- Actinovate Lawn & Garden at 0.5 to 1 teaspoon/gal water. H O
- Bexfond at 7 to 14 fl oz/A for soil applications via drenches, in-furrow applications, drip irrigation, or sprays followed by irrigation. Reapply 3 to 4 weeks after planting. 4-hr reentry. O
- Double Nickel LC at 1 to 2 quarts/A as a banded soil spray or drench on 4- to 6-week intervals or at 0.5 to 4.5 pints/A on 2- to 4-week intervals. Can be applied the day of harvest. 4-hr reentry. O
- Mycostop at 0.07 oz/lb seed. 4-hr reentry. O
- Rootshield WP at 3 to 8 oz/100 gal water for greenhouse soil drench and field chemigation or at 16 to 32 oz/A as an in-furrow spray. 4-hr reentry. O
- SoilGard at 2 to 10 lb/A at 4-week intervals will suppress Pythium and Rhizoctonia. See label for specific application types and timings. Can be applied on the day of harvest. 4-hr reentry. O