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The fungus Rhizoctonia solani attacks both the main roots, which are later harvested and marketed as the so-called horseradish stalks, and the secondary roots (fechsern) of the horseradish plants. This results in yield losses on the one hand and the spread of the fungus on the other, since the secondary roots are the planting material for the next year's crop.

Host plants

Rhizoctonia solani has a very wide host plant range, including potato, beet, radish and radish, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber and many other vegetables and crops.

Distribution

Rhizoctonia solani is distributed worldwide.

Propagation and transmission

A whitish fungal thread network (= mycelium) can be seen at the infested areas. However, no spore carriers and spores are formed on these fungal threads. The fungus therefore spreads at this stage only by the steady growth of its fungal filaments. Rhizoctonia solani survives by means of mycelium or small, brown sclerotia in the soil or on infected plant debris.

The optimum temperature for the development of this fungus is between 25 and 30 °C, but it still grows below 10 °C. The fungus occurs in various adapted pathotypes. Infections occur by direct penetration of plant tissue. Infestation occurs preferentially at low pH, temperatures above 16 °C, persistent high humidity, and high humus content. No infections take place below 9 °C. At 9 °C, the incubation period lasts eleven to 15 days, at 20 °C less than three days.

Economic importance

The sunken, often cracked or cancerously overgrown areas on the canes impair the quality of the harvested product, which is often no longer marketable. Yield losses can amount to up to 30%.

Prevention and control

• Cooler and rapidly drying soils can reduce infestation.
• In any case, a crop rotation of at least three years must be observed. When planning the crop rotation, remember that the fungus can also infect many other crops.

Services

Plant Health Services