The Mango Root Rot & Damping-off Disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani is a significant problem in mango cultivation worldwide. The disease affects mango plants of all ages, causing severe damage to the root system, reducing growth, and even causing the death of the plant. Rhizoctonia solani can also cause damping-off disease in seedlings, leading to the rotting of the stem at the soil line and the death of the plant.
The disease can be challenging to control, and prevention is key to minimizing the risk of infection. This disease can be spread through the soil, infected plant debris, and contaminated tools, making it essential to adopt integrated disease management strategies to control its spread. Effective management of Mango Root Rot and Damping-off Disease is critical to maintaining the productivity and sustainability of mango orchards.
To effectively manage this disease, it is important to understand its disease cycle, the mode of disease spread, and the best methods for controlling it. This article will provide an overview and discussion of the Mango Root Rot & Damping-off Disease in Mango crops, including its symptoms, identification techniques, and control.
Mango Root Rot and Damping-off Disease Management
The Causal Organism of Mango Root Rot & Damping-off Disease
- Rhizoctonia solani is a filamentous, soil-borne fungus that belongs to the Family Ceratobasidiaceae of Order Cantharellales of the Phylum Basidiomycota.
- The mycelium is white to light brown and can grow several centimeters long. The hyphae are septate, which helps the fungus grow and spread rapidly.
- The fungus also produces sclerotia, dark, rigid structures that can persist in the soil for several years, even without a host plant.
- The fungus reproduces by producing small, round spores called conidia on conidiophores, which emerge from the mycelium and are released into the soil and can infect nearby plants.
- The fungus has a characteristic “shoestring” appearance, with long, thin hyphae that resemble shoelaces.
The Disease Cycle of Mango Root Rot & Damping-off Disease
The disease cycle of the Mango Root Rot & Damping-off Disease, Rhizoctonia solani, in Mango Crops starts as the sclerotia, which are hard, dark structures that can persist in the soil, infected plant debris or on tools used in the field. It can infect mango plants at any growth stage, from seedlings to mature trees. The fungus infects the plant’s roots, often through wounds or cracks in the bark.
Once inside the plant, the fungus colonizes the root system, causing root rot and damping off, which results in the death of the plant. The fungus produces enzymes that break down the plant tissues, which provide nutrients for the fungus to grow and spread. The fungus hyphae spread through the soil and can infect nearby plants.
The pathogen reproduces by producing small, round spore