Root rot is a condition in which
anoxic conditions in the
soil
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...
or
potting media around the roots of a plant cause them to rot. This occurs due to excessive standing water around the roots.
[-]
Hydroponics Root Rot: What is It, How To Treat It, How to Prevent It
''Origin Hydroponics.'' June 2, 2018
Root Rot In Your Hydroponic System: 4 Reasons (+ Solutions)
''YOUR INDOOR HERBS AND GARDEN. n.d''
Tips For Preventing Root Rot In Hydroponics
''Fresh Air With Housplants''. February 3, 2022. It is found in both indoor and outdoor plants, although it is more common in indoor plants due to overwatering, heavy potting media, or containers with poor
drainage. The leaves of plants experiencing root rot often yellow and die, and if allowed to continue, the condition can be fatal to the plant.
To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry, and to put the plant in a well-drained pot. Using a dense potting media such as one dug up from outdoors can also cause root rot. Plants from different environments have different tolerances for soil moisture: plants evolved for desert conditions will experience root rot at lower moisture levels than plants evolved for tropical conditions. In both indoor and outdoor plants, it can be lethal and there is no effective treatment, though some plants can be
propagated so they will not be lost completely.
Many cases of root rot are caused by members of the
water mold genus ''
Phytophthora''; perhaps the most aggressive is
''P. cinnamomi''.
Spore
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores fo ...
s from root rot causing agents do contaminate other plants, but the rot cannot take hold unless there is adequate moisture. Spores are not only
airborne, but are also carried by insects and other
arthropod
Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthropod exoskeleton, exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin, often Mineralization (biology), mineralised with calcium carbonate, a body with differentiated (Metam ...
s in the soil.
It can be controlled by drenching
carbendazim.
Hydroponics
Root rot can occur in
hydroponic applications, if the water is not properly
aerated.
This is usually accomplished by use of an
air pump,
air stones,
air diffusers and by adjustment of the frequency and length of watering cycles where applicable. Hydroponic air pumps function in much the same way as
aquarium pumps, which are used for the same purpose. Root rot and other problems associated with poor water aeration were principal reasons for the development of
aeroponics.
Particular diseases
Some particular pathogens infect plants and causes root rot. Such pathogens are listed:
*
Armillaria causes
Armillaria root rot or white rot root disease
*
Phellinius noxius
*
Rhododendron root rot
*
Shoestring root rot
*
Texas root rot
* ''
Rosellinia necatrix'' aka ''Dematophora necatrix''
* ''
Scytinostroma galactinum'' aka ''Corticium galactinum''
* ''
Phytophthora'' – see ''
Phytophthora cinnamomi'' for discussion on treatment
*
Basidiomycete fungi are wide-spread saprophytes and afflicts
Acacia plants with root rot.
[Old, K. M., See, L. S., Sharma, J. K., & Yuan, Z. Q. (2000). ROOT ROT. In ''A Manual of Diseases of Tropical Acacias in Australia, South-East Asia and India'' (pp. 89). Center for International Forestry Research. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep02154.21]
*
Ganoderma spp.
*
Phytophthora cinnamomi
See also
* ''
Pythium''
* ''
Rhizoctonia''
*
Plant pathology
Plant pathology or phytopathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Plant pathology involves the study of pathogen identification, disease ...
*
Damping off
Damping off (or damping-off) is a horticultural disease or condition, caused by several different pathogens that kill or weaken seeds or seedlings before or after they germinate. It is most prevalent in wet and cool conditions.
Symptoms
There ar ...
– root rot in seedlings
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Root Rot
Plant pathogens and diseases