Rhizoctonia Fungus as Cause for Damping-off and Root Diseases

Rhizoctonia solani causes damping-off in e.g. cole crops, root vegetables, lettuce, tomato and cucumber as well as ornamental plants such as bedding plants. The pathogen remains in the ground as sclerotium for a long time infesting plants in the soil. It can destroy seedlings already before they have emerged but it is also found in older seedlings. Later on in the growing season Rhizoctonia fungi cause root and stem rot in vegetables and ornamental plants and bottom rot in lettuce.