Pythium Management

Seed Testing

Most commercial seed labs can conduct seed-borne disease testing for fungal pathogens. Testing your seed for seed-borne diseases before deciding to plant it can inform whether you need to use a seed treatment as well as the germination, vigour, and TKW of your seed lot.

Seed Treatments

Pythium spp. can be controlled with specific seed treatments as a prevention measure. Seed treatments protect the developing seedling, especially under cool, wet conditions when emergence may be delayed.

Consider a seed treatment if the field has a history of disease and seeding under cool/wet conditions.

Fungicidal effects will only last two to three weeks against early season disease pressure. Follow label instructions as directed by product manufacturers.

Once the seed is in the ground, it is essential to monitor plant health by checking above and belowground portions of the plant throughout the season. Avoid causing mechanical damage to your seed or planting seed with a high percentage of seed coat cracking, as this is the primary infection point of yield-robbing Pythium infections.

Field Selection

Choose well-drained fields with a more extended rotation history between host crops to limit or mitigate the potential for a Pythium infection. Soils that are heavily textured (heavy clay) and have areas of compaction will contribute to and exacerbate a Pythium infection.