Getting to the root of rhizoctonia

Rhizoctonia solani is a common soil borne crop pathogen which can cause OSR establishment losses of 17-65 per cent, according to a recently published AHDB fact sheet on the disease.

Thiram-based treatments have provided some control, however, sale of products based on this active ingredient is no longer permitted and products must be used up by January 30, 2020.

Problems associated with growing oilseed rape such as loss of neonicotinoid seed dressings, cabbage stem flea beetle and oilseed rape yields remaining static are well documented. Against this background Syngenta, University of Nottingham and AHDB decided to focus on the effect of R solani on the crop with the launch of the ICAROS project (Integrating control strategies against soil-borne R solani in oilseed rape).

R solani hits yield most under very low cumulative rainfall as good soil porosity favours spread of the pathogen, said University of Nottingham researcher Dr Rumiana Ray.

Differences were found between OSR variety performance under moderately R solani infected soils, said Dr Ray. “Campus yields best, Skye, Anastasia and Saveo next and most affected are Mantara and Sensia.”