Cotton Root Rot Fungal Spore Mat

It is one of the most destructive plant diseases and attacks more than 2 000 species.

Cotton root rot fungal spore mat.

Cotton root rot also known as texas root rot and by its scientific name phymatotricum root rot is caused by the the soil borne fungus phymatotrichum omnivorum and is responsbile for serious and usually fatal root rots on more than 2 300 species of plants. Factors affecting the disease and fungal survival this fungus can survive many years in soil as sclerotia which can occur at depths of 7 feet. Cotton root rot has been reported in texas counties from the red river to the rio grande and from tom green county to the neches river. Spore mats and conidia.

The disease has afflicted the cotton industry for more than 100 years. Phymatotrichum root rot also known as cotton root rot or texas root rot is caused by the soil borne fungus. Fungal threads on roots spore mats around infected plants. Cotton root rot caused by the fungus phymatotrichum omnivorum also is known by several other names such as phymatotrichum root rot texas root rot and ozonium root rot.

Phymatotrichum root rot also known as cotton root rot and texas root rot is caused by the fungus phymatotrichopsis ominvorum. Alkaline soils soils low in organic matter. The strands colonize the root. Sclerotia germinate and produce strands that grow through soil and eventually contact roots.

The fungus attacks more than 2 000 species of broadleaf plants but does not affect monocots grasses. Cotton root rot fungal mats. Cotton root rot typically occurs in specific geographies in the southwestern united states and is found in arizona california texas new mexico and oklahoma cotton root rot is prevalent in calcareous alkaline. Factors affecting the disease and fungal survival this fungus can survive many years in soil as sclerotia which can occur at depths of 7 feet.

You can see the cottony like mats and the decay that is occuring at the base of the trunk. The fungus often forms spore mats on the soil surface during warm rainy weather. In this photo we wanted to show you what the sporemats of cotton root rot looks like when they emerge on the soil or tree surface. If you see this fungus on the soil or your tree there s a problem.

Fresh spore mat of cotton root rot fungus. Fresh spore mat of cotton root rot fungus. Survival structures produced in soil away from the host roots. These mats vary in size from 2 to 16 inches in diameter and are white to tan colored.