STUDIES ON ROOT ROT OF CORN IN ONTARIO

Abstract
Root rot of corn in Ontario is caused primarily by parasitic soil micro-organisms, the most important of which are species of Pythium, Helminthosporium, and Fusarium in that order. The disease causes a decrease in the stand by pre-emergence killing and a dwarfing of the plants by the parasitic invasion and destruction of their roots by the organisms. The pathogens have different optimum soil temperatures but the lower ranges favour those that cause the most severe damage. The roots of other field crops can be parasitized by the organisms found associated with corn root rot, but their effect on the development of the crop varies greatly. It has been proved under greenhouse conditions that the severity of the disease is greatly reduced if the corn is preceded by cover crops of soybeans and materially increased when preceded by timothy. Other crops tested have an intermediate effect.

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