Root rot
scouted May 30, 2024
- Scientific Name
- Pythium sp. and Fusarium sp.
- Background
- Soybeans in Person County were scouted, and 75% of a field was observed to be affected by widespread root and stem rot. The grower planted at the end of April into a cereal rye cover crop. Following that, the field experienced over 10 inches of rain over the following three weeks.
- Conclusion
- The cause of the disease was identified as Pythium sp. and Fusarium sp. Fusarium root rot can result in both pre- and post-emergence damping-off, leading to delayed emergence and stunting of infected seedlings. Root rot symptoms typically manifest as dark brown discoloration, with lesions extending through the vascular tissue to the hypocotyls and are often accompanied by the absence of secondary roots. Pythium species have a very similar survival mechanism and infection process. The overwintering oospores will germinate in saturated soils infecting the plant or producing more infectious spores that move through water to infect healthy plants. Pythium species overwintering oospores will germinate in saturated soils infecting the plant or producing more infectious spores that move through water to infect healthy plants.
