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ARS Home » Midwest Area » East Lansing, Michigan » Sugarbeet and Bean Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376081
Research Project: Genetic Characterization for Sugar Beet Improvement

Location: Sugarbeet and Bean Research

Title: A complicated disease: Rhizoctonia root and crown rot

Author
item Hanson, Linda
item MINIER, DOUGLAS - Michigan State University
item BUBLITZ, DANIEL - Michigan State University
item WILLBUR, JAMIE - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Newsbeet
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2020
Publication Date: 12/1/2020
Citation: Hanson, L.E., Minier, D.H., Bublitz, D.M., Willbur, J.F. 2020. A complicated disease: Rhizoctonia root and crown rot. Newsbeet. 34:21-23. Available: https://www.michigansugar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Newsbeet_FallWinter2020_web.pdf.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rhizoctonia root and crown rot of sugar beet is an important soil-borne disease caused by fungi named Rhizoctonia solani. We now know what we call Rhizoctonia solani is actually a number of different species that vary in their host range and effects on plants, but that are very hard to tell apart with traditional methods. The application of newer molecular methods has allowed us to better understand the relationships within this important group of pathogens. Currently Rhizoctonia solani is divided into at least thirteen different anastomosis groups (AG) that are essentially different species. On sugar beet, AG 2-2 can cause both seedling damping-off and adult plant root and crown rot. Disease consists of dark, generally dry lesions. The program has developed some new methods of examining diversity of isolates in the field.