Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

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Summary

• Worldwide distribution. On carrot, beans, cucurbits, capsicum, peanut, sweetpotato, taro, giant taro, and other aroids, tomato, and weeds. An important disease.
• The fungus attacks many crops at soil level and below, Its cottony growth penetrates directly or via wounds, causing a wilt. Between crops, it lives on plant debris, or as white, tight balls, called 'sclerotia'.
• Spread occurs as the fungus grows through the soil; over longer distance by movement of infected plants.
• Cultural control: crop rotations, using plants that are not susceptible, e.g., banana, yam, cassava, maize; check nursery plants; avoid land with history of blight; add lime or coral sand; remove infected plants with sclerotia; collect and burn trash after harvest; plough land deeply.
• Chemical control: none recommended.