![]() ![]() Sclerotium rolfsii colonizes crop residues and produces sclerotium (resistance mechanism) to survive environmental extremes, such as lack of food sources for long periods-of-time ( BENÍTEZ et al., 2004 BENÍTEZ, T. Annual Review of Phytopathology, Palo Alto, v.23, p.97-127, 1985. The Biology, Ecology and Control of Sclerotium rolfsii. This fungus can infect over 500 plant species due to its low host specificity ( PUNJA, 1985 PUNJA, Z.K. #Southern blight professionalIf all else fails, consider calling in a landscape professional to treat your garden soil with the appropriate fungicides specified for southern blight treatment.Sclerotium rolfsii, the pathogen of southern blight, causes root and crown rot, wilt and damping off in plants. The top two inches (5 cm.) of soil must come to a temperature of at least 122 degrees F. Cover the soil with a clear plastic tarp and leave it in place while the heat builds up under it. Soil solarization is an effective method of killing the fungus in the south, but in northern climates, the soil temperatures may not be high enough to eradicate the disease. Don’t transplant any nearby plants to other parts of the garden. Remove and destroy diseased plants, along with the surrounding soil and any garden debris or mulch that has come in contact with them. Quarantine new plants by growing them in a bed that is isolated from the rest of the garden until you are sure they are disease-free. Remove the soil before moving from one part of the garden to another. The disease organism travels around the garden in bits of soil that clings to garden tools and the soles of shoes. In the home garden, southern blight treatment begins with good sanitation to prevent the spread of the disease. Home gardeners must depend on cultural practices to control the disease. ![]() How Do You Control Southern Blight?Ĭontrolling southern blight in the home garden is a challenge because the fungicides that are effective in treating the disease are only available to commercial growers. When you find the hyphae or mycelia, the best course of action is to dispose of the plant and the soil surrounding it. ![]() Upon close inspection, you may find an abundance of white hyphae or mycelia around the lower stem and roots and in the surrounding soil. Symptoms include discolored lower leaves, wilted foliage, and plant collapse and it usually results in the death of the plant. Southern blight on plants is most likely to occur in the summer months when the soil is warm and moist. The disease attacks a wide range of vegetable crops and ornamental plants at or below the soil line. It is caused by the soil borne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii. Southern blight, southern wilt, southern stem rot, and southern root rot all refer to the same disease. How do you control southern blight before it takes out all of your plants? Keep reading to find out ways for controlling southern blight in gardens. Southern blight on plants is a common problem in many home gardens but it doesn’t have to be. Your garden grows so nice and then, without any warning, you turn around and notice all your healthy plants wilting and dying. ![]()
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