Damping-off

Symptom

In cool, wet soils and high humidity conditions, the spread of diseases is prevalent, particularly due to soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia. These pathogens commonly affect seedlings. When infection occurs, seeds may rot before germination, or young seedlings may die before emerging from the soil. During early growth stages, the stem area in contact with the soil line (the collar region) initially develops water-soaked lesions, becomes soft, and eventually shrivels, causing the plant to collapse and die. In infected fields, roots may turn brown and decay. Rather than focusing on treatment, effective disease prevention measures are crucial for managing these infections.