Shallow Planting and Fungicide Application to Control Rhizoctonia Stalk Rot of Celery. D. J. Pieczarka, Assistant Professor, University of Florida Agricultural Research and Education Center, Belle Glade 33430. Plant Dis. 65:879-880. Accepted for publication 2 March 1981. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-879.

Celery seedlings were transplanted in unridged rows with the crown at 0.0, 1.3, and 4.0 cm below or 1.3 cm above the soil line. Seedlings transplanted at a depth of 4.0 and 0.0 cm had 3.3 and 2.2 infected petioles per plant, respectively. Comparative plantings on ridged rows further reduced petiole infections in the plantings at 1.3 cm only. Spraying with chlorothalonil on a 4- to 5-day schedule starting 6 wk after transplanting significantly reduced petiole damage at all planting depths. The best control, an average of 0.2 or fewer infected petioles per plant, was achieved by spraying plants planted shallower than 4.0 cm. Stalk rot was equally suppressed when chlorothalonil was applied with or without drop nozzles.

Keyword(s): cultural control.