Extended version | Download fact sheet
Fusarium Seed and Root Rot
Causal Agent:
Fusarium spp.; most commonly F. graminearum and F. oxysporum in Ohio
Symptoms and Signs:
- Slow seedling emergence
- Low stand counts
- Stunting
- Chlorosis
- Necrotic cotyledons
- Root rot; shallow, stunted, brown roots
Disease Cycle:
- Overwinters in infected crop debris as chlamydospores or mycelia.
- The fungus will enter the plant using natural openings or wounds. Some species will directly penetrate the root.
- The fungus colonizes by growing intercellularly.
- Symptoms will be more severe under moist conditions and in saturated soils. However, symptoms can still develop in dry conditions.
Disease Management:
Chemical applications: There are several fungicide classes available to use against Fusarium. For a complete list of the efficacy of seed treatments effective against true fungi, check out the Management section of this website.
Cultural practices: Using a standard rotation of corn-soybean-wheat will not be effective in reducing inoculum build-up of Fusarium in the field, as this pathogen uses all three crops as a host. For this reason, tillage is an important strategy to implement in order to bury any infective crop debris left in the field. Low temperatures and high amounts of moisture may also play a role in high amounts of disease incidence in the field. These conditions are common in early planting times.