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IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials

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Rhizoctonia
IPM scouting in herbaceous perennials > rhizoctonia
Pathogen: Rhizoctonia solani.

Hosts include: Achillea, Aconitum, Aquilegia, Aster, Campanula, Chrysanthemum, Core-opsis, Delphinium, Dianthus, Digitalis, Gaillardia, Gypsophila, Helianthus, Hemerocallis, Hosta, Iberis, Lathyrus, Lilium, Limonium, Lysimachia, Nepeta, Oenothera, Papaver, Phlox, Platycodon, Potentilla, Primula, Salvia, Sedum, Veronica and Viola.

Symptoms: Rhizoctonia causes a variety of symptoms, including damping-off, stem lesions, stem rot, root rot, crown rot and aerial web blighting. Infection causes wilting, stunting and possibly plant death. Some vegetatively propagated plants are susceptible to rot at the base of the cutting.

Spread: This is a soil-borne pathogen. It persists in soil as mycelium and sclerotia (small, brown, long-term survival structures). The disease is spread when contaminated soil, plant material, tools and equipment are moved.

Management: Good sanitation practices are important to minimize disease introduction and spread. Rhizoctonia spp. tend to be more prevalent on stressed or wounded plants. Stress factors such as an excess or deficiency of water and fertilizer are important considerations in preventing Rhizoctonia diseases. Avoid periods of wet conditions followed by dry conditions. The fungus is favored by warm, moist conditions. Severely affected plants should be removed promptly. Research on efficacy of biological control through soil amendments is ongoing.
Stem lesions Girdling lesions on plugs Discrete brown lesions on roots
Stem lesions can develop in the canopy of closely spaced plants. Girdling lesions on plugs caused by Rhizoctonia that infected plants at the soil line. Discrete brown lesions on roots of Echinacea.
This information was developed from A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials by Jan Byrne and Raymond A. Cloyd. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2981).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated 9/28/07