Disease & Defence

b.stev

Rhizoctonia solani

Rhizoctonia solani is a FUNGUS

FUNGUSFUNGUS grows on BOTH living & dead

PLANTS

formsforms:: small irregular structures called:

sclerotia

-- these develop a brown/black colour in

maturity

Sclerotia makes the fungus a competitive

inhabitant in soil – can survive for YEARS

Widely distributed throughout the WORLDWORLD

the disease is FAVOUREDFAVOURED to MANY plants

(Wikipedia, 2008)

HOW the disease attacks the PLANT

(Wikipedia, 2008)

attacks in the soilsoil: unless the, UPPER plant/ fruit

is SPRAYEDSPRAYED with infected H2O OROR PLANT PLANT

tissueRhizoctonia solani is a

condition in agriculture called:

”damping off,”.

- as it causes DEATHDEATH to

seedlings

ALSO: “ wire stem

disease,”:in

cabbage/cauliflower & similar

plants

- results in constrictedconstricted wiry

stems

in growth of the older

seedlings

(North Carolina State University, 1999)

WHAT can be done:o rotate crops every: 3 – 4 years

o avoid quick release nitrogeno mix in compost/ manure

- less infection to living plants as the FUNGUSFUNGUS ALSOALSO feeds on it

o drainage is useful

o DON’T over water

o plant resistant varieties

o USEUSE a specific fungicidefungicide(North Carolina State University, 1999)

Bibliography

North Carolina State University. (1999). Rhizoctonia solani. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/pp728/Rhizo ctonia/Rhizoctonia.html

Wikipedia. (2008). Rhizoctonia solani. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from http//:www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizoctonia_solani - 27k -