Pests - Diseases
“Damping off” diseases, Pythium and Fusarium
Pythium and Fusarium are common soil dwelling fungal pathogens that only affect
seedlings. Grass, Brassica and Lucerne species can be affected by fungal pathogens
during plant establishment. Plant infection can occur over a wide soil temperature
range. Fusarium favours dry soils and Pythium prefers moist soils. Fungal attack
by Pythium and Fusarium is characterised by either the failure of seedlings to emerge,
or the toppling over and subsequent death of newly emerged seedlings, with seedlings
revealing shrivelling and discolouration at the shoot base.
Prevention and Control