Plant Pathology Litchi Litchi sudden death (Pythium spp.) | Litchi sudden death (Pythium spp.) |
|
Phylum: Heterokontophyta Pythium root rot is a common crop disease caused by Pythium. These are commonly called water moulds. Pythium damping off is a very common problem in fields, where the organism kills newly emerged seedlings. This disease complex usually involves other pathogens such as Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia. Many Pythium species, along with their close relatives, Phytophthora species are plant pathogens of economic importance in agriculture. Pythium spp. tend to be very generalistic and unspecific in their host range. Several Pythium species, including P. oligandrum, P. nunn, P. periplocum, and P. acanthicum are mycoparasites of plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes, and have received interest as potential biocontrol agents. |
