Causal Agent: 

Oomycete (Pythium spp.)

 

Charactersitic symptom:
 
Water-soaked lesions on stem, which enlarge and girdle the stem resulting in wilt and death of the plant.
 
Affected area may be covered with mass of whitish fungal growth.
 
Severe root infection.
 
Conditions for Disease Development:
 
The disease is common in cool, wet soils.
   
All crops are susceptible usually at seedling (3 weeks after sowing) or early vegetative stage.
   
Over watering or poor drainage, over crowding of plants, excessive application of nitrogen, stressful environmental conditions and presence of nematodes may contribute to susceptibility.
   
The pathogen is disseminated through contaminated irrigation water, splashing rain or heavy rainfall.
   
Management and Control:
 
Use pathogen-free/certified seeds.
   
Soak pots in 10 mg/L chlorine.
   
Drench seedlings with chemical fungicides like promocarb hydrochloride (e.g. ProplantⓇ, PrevicureⓇ) or fosetyl aluminum (e.g. AlietteⓇ), metalaxyl+mancozeb (e.g. Ridomil Gold MZ 68 WGⓇ, Apron XL 350 ESⓇ), mancozeb (e.g. Attain M-80Ⓡ, Achem Mancozeb 80 WPⓇ, Micron 80 WOⓇ, VanzebⓇ) before transplanting to the field.
   
Avoid over watering or excessive moisture.
   

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