Rhizoctonia Solani is the most common cause of seedling blight. Prolonged exposure to cold, very wet or dry soil, deep seeding and short crop rotations encourage infection. Seeds fail to germinate and become soft and pulpy or they germinate but seedlings fail to emerge. Seedling roots decay and the rot extends up into hypocotyl and stem at the soil surface, causing the seedling to topple over. In dry conditions, shriveled stem may persist and under wet conditions, the seedling is destroyed in a few days.
Seedling blight may be scattered throughout fields or in patches, particularly on knolls or in depressions. By the two to four-leaf stage, seedlings can withstand light to moderate infection and regenerate new rootlets. It generally causes poor stand establishment.
Scouting
Just after emergence, look for areas of fields that exhibit severe stand reduction and scout those areas for symptoms of blight or damping off.
Control
Seed shallowly in firmly packed soil. Sow into warm soils with adequate fertility. Prosper seed treatment will protect against Rhizoctonia Solani.
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