As new plant species were brought into our area plant pathogens whether native or not have found their way in to our landscape as well.
Cotton root rot spore mat.
To light tan sterile spore mat on the surface of the soil near the host but these mats are not common.
27 c and air temperature exceeds 104 f.
Phymatotrichum root rot also known as cotton root rot or texas root rot is caused by the soil borne fungus.
Alkaline soils soils low in organic matter.
Grapes with cotton root rot.
What can it be confused with.
Grape cotton root rot is active in the summer months when soil temperatures are at least 80 f.
Spore mats are evidence of the fungal presence but currently spores are thought to have no function in the survival infection or spread of the po fungus.
This type of root rot disease is extremely difficult to control but the following information may help.
A unique feature of this disease is the production of spore mats that may form on the soil surface near dead.
The fungus attacks more than 2 000 species of broadleaf plants but does not affect monocots grasses.
Sclerotia germinate and produce strands that grow through soil and eventually contact roots.
Avoid infested locations plant non hosts or resistant species.
Fresh spore mat of cotton root rot fungus.
The fungus thrives in clay loam soil conditions where ph is between 7 0 to 8 5.
The strands colonize the root.
40 c usually in the months of august and september.
Verticillium wilt sudden wilt and root rot due to excessive.
Spore mats around infected plants.
Spore mat on the moist soil surface during the summer monsoon season.
Cotton root rot requires high heat conditions to flourish with a soil temperature of about 85 degrees f.
Thus cotton root rot is usually considered a warm weather disease.
Factors affecting the disease and fungal survival this fungus can survive many years in soil as sclerotia which can occur at depths of 7 feet.
One disease that has over 2 300 host species 1 800 dicots is known as phymatotrichopsis omnivora also referred to as cotton root rot texas root rot and ozonia root rot.
Cotton root rot has been reported in texas counties from the red river to the rio grande and from tom green county to the neches river.
The fungus often forms spore mats on the soil surface during warm rainy weather.
Cotton root rot phymatotrichum omnivorum affects more then 2 000 plant species according to texas a m university.
Rapid wilting and death occurs in hot weather due to the inability of the host plant to take up enough water through its rotted roots.
Spore mats and conidia.
