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Pythium spp. Infecting Hydroponically Grown Lettuce in South Africa

Root rot and wilting of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L.) commonly occur in hydroponic systems in South Africa. Plants showing stunted growth, wilt, and root rot were collected at two commercial hydroponic systems in Gauteng Province, and root segments were plated on a Pythium selective medium (1). P. irregulare and three species groups without oogonia (F, HS, and T) were identified (2). Pythium groups F, HS, and T, and P. irregulare were represented by 63, 6, 5, and 26% of the isolates, repectively. Koch's postulates were confirmed in two greenhouse experiments by inoculating 4-week-old lettuce cv. Lutetia seedlings grown in aerated nutrient solution at 21°C. Two V8 juice agar cultures of an isolate of each species or species group were blended in 500 ml of sterile water, and 166 ml of suspension was added to the nutrient solution in each of three 5-liter receptacles containing four lettuce seedlings. Control plants received sterile V8 juice agar suspension. After 4 weeks, all Pythium isolates caused root rot and reduced fresh plant weight significantly, although no wilting occurred. Symptoms were more severe with P. irregulare and Pythium group HS than with groups F and T. Compared to the control, P. irregulare reduced fresh root and shoot weight of plants by 51 and 38%, Pythium group HS by 41 and 33%, Pythium group T by 29 and 26%, and Pythium group F by 30 and 24%, respectively.

References: (1) W. J. Botha and R. L. J. Coetzer. S. Afr. J. Bot. 62:196, 1996. (2) M. W. Dick. Keys to Pythium. University of Reading Press, Reading UK, 1990.