We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Rhizoctonia Solani?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,980
Share

Rhizoctonia solani is a fungus found in soil and known to infect plants, causing fungal diseases like collar rot, wire stem, and damping off. Infection with this fungus is usually fatal and often occurs in seedlings. There are a number of measures available for control of this fungus that can be used to reduce the risks of fungal infection in plants and to manage existing outbreaks.

This fungus produces a white, thready mycelium and when an infection is active, may appear in the form of small threads around the base of the plant. Plants infected with Rhizoctonia solani typically develop reddish to brown sunken spots. The spots spread, causing the plant to soften, wilt, and fall over. A common form of infection is a collar rot, where the fungus rings a developing stem, cutting off the supply of nutrients to the rest of the plant. When it infects the main stem of a seedling, the whole seedling will die.

Damping off, a common fungal disease of seedlings, can be caused by Rhizoctonia solani along other fungi. Plants infected with fungus soften, turn mushy, and die. Sometimes, the infection starts very early in the germination process, before the seedling has even had a chance to sprout. In wire stem, a disease involving older plants, rot and scarring constrict stem size, limiting growth and depriving plants of the nutrients they need.

Controlling this soilborne pathogen requires promptly removing and burning or otherwise safely disposing of infected plants. Infectious plant material should not be composted, as the fungus can live in the compost and will cause a recurrence of the infection when the compost is applied to plants or mixed with soil. Soil treatments are available, with fumigants to kill the fungus so it cannot spread.

Gardeners can also abandon soil infected with Rhizoctonia solani for several planting cycles. Without nutrition, the fungus will eventually die off, and the soil can be used again. Soil sterilization will ensure that there are no traces of this fungus or other infectious organisms in the soil.

While it can be frustrating to lose a crop to Rhizoctonia solani, it is important to act quickly and decisively to halt the spread of the fungus. When working in environments like greenhouses, maintaining a drier and slightly cooler environment can inhibit fungal growth, and it is important to avoid moving or mixing greenhouse trays, so that in the event of a fungal invasion, infected trays can be quickly and easily removed to prevent the fungus from spreading throughout the entire facility.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-rhizoctonia-solani.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.