Measures to Control Damping Off Disease in Brinjal

In this blog, you'll learn about what is damping off disease in Brinjal its favorable environmental conditions, and effective strategies to prevent it

• What is Damping Off disease in Brinjal

  Damping-off is a common disease that affects seedlings, causing them to rot and die. It is caused by fungi and fungus-like organisms that live in the soil and is most prevalent in wet and cool conditions. Damping off disease affects young brinjal seedlings, both before and after they emerge from the soil. It's caused by various soil-borne pathogens, such as Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotium rolfsii. These fungi thrive in warm, moist conditions and can quickly spread through infected soil, water, or tools.

  Overview of Damping off disease in Brinjal

  Type of Infestation	Fungal Disease
  Common Name	Damping Off
  Causal Organism	Pythium aphanidermatum
  Affected Parts Of the plant	Seed, Stem, Root, Leaves

  Favorable factors for Damping off disease in Brinjal:

  • Temperature: Most damping-off fungi prefer cooler temperatures, typically between 18-24°C (64-75°F). This can be a problem during early spring or in unheated greenhouses.
  • Humidity: Many fungi causing damping-off prefer cooler temperatures, typically around 50-65°F (10-18°C). This is why the disease is often more prevalent in early spring or late fall.

   

• Symptoms of Damping Off Disease in Brinjal:

  • Seeds fail to germinate.
  • Seedlings emerge but then wilt and collapse.
  • The stem of the seedling becomes soft and mushy.
  • There may be white or gray fungal growth around the base of the stem.

   

• Measures to control Damping off disease in Brinjal:

  Biological Control of Damping Off in Brinjal

  • Treat the seeds with Trichoderma asperellum @ 4 g / kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g /kg of seeds 24 hours before sowing.
  • Apply P. fluorescens to soil @ 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg of FYM.

   

  • Seed treatment with antagonistic fungus viz. Trichoderma harzianum@ 4 g/kg seed or T. viride @ 4 g/kg seed along with application of pressmud @ 5 kg/m2 or carbofuran 3G @10 g/m2.

   

  Chemical Control of Damping Off in Brinjal

  Damping-off in brinjal can be controlled by the use of different chemical fungicides:

   

  Products	Technical Names	Dosages
  KTM	Thiophanate Methyl 70% WP	250-600gm/acre
  COC50	Copper oxychloride 50 % wp	2gm/ltr
  Samartha	Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 63 % WP	300-400 grams per acre
  Meta-Manco	Metalaxyl 8 % + Mancozeb 64 % wp	1.5 to 2 kg per ha

   

  FAQs related to Damping Off disease in Brinjal

  Q)What is damping-off disease in brinjal?

  Ans)Damping-off in brinjal is a disease that makes young plants rot and fall over. It mostly attacks seedlings, causing them to die before they can grow properly

  Q)Which fungicide is best for damping off?

  Ans) Katyayani COC50 is one of the best fungicide for damping off disease in Brinjal

  Q)What is the cause of damping-off disease?

  Ans)Soil-borne fungi like Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium cause damping-off, leading to seedling collapse and decay.