Pythium spp.

Fungal Disease

Pythium spp.

Fungal Disease

Pythium spp.

Fungal Disease

Pythium spp.

Fungal Disease

Pythium spp.

Fungal Disease

Symptoms

• Disease appears on isolated plants or in patches.
• Leaves dry from margins to entire leaf.
• Water-soaked spots appear at the base of the pseudostem.
• Root system decays, reducing to a few rotting roots.
• Infection spreads to rhizomes, turning them soft and brown.
• Fibrovascular tissues in rhizomes turn dark brown.
• Affected rhizomes shrivel, dry, and harden over time.

Causal Organism

• Pythium aphanidermatum is the most destructive pathogen.
• Other fungi like Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani also contribute.
• The disease is soil-borne and rhizome-borne, spreading with monsoon rains (June–Sept).

Favorable Conditions

• High soil moisture and poor drainage.
• Temperature >30°C increases disease severity.
• Nematode infestations worsen the infection.

Survival & Spread

• Primary infection via infected rhizomes and soil-borne spores.
• Secondary spread through water, wind, and infected plant debris.

Management

• Use resistant/tolerant varieties.
• Improve drainage to prevent waterlogging.
• Practice crop rotation with maize, cotton, or soybean.
• Treat rhizomes with biofungicides like Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum.
• Apply cow dung slurry or liquid manure after mulching.

Proper soil and water management can significantly reduce disease incidence and economic losses.