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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
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Basil
Description
Basil, Ocimum basilicum, is a short lived annual or perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae grown for its leaves
which are used as a herb. The basil plant grows from a thick taproot and has silky green opposite (paired) oval
leaves which grow to be 3–11 cm (1.2–4.3 in) long and 1–6 cm (0.4–2.4 in), branching out from the central stem. The
plant produces small white flowers which are clustered on a single spike at the top of the plant. Basil plants are
often grown as annuals but may survive for several seasons with some care and can reach heights between 30 and
130 cm (11.8 and 51.2 in) depending on the variety. Basil may also be referred to as sweet basil, St. Joseph's wort, thai
basil, lemon basil or holy basil depending on the variety and is native to India and other tropical regions of Asia.
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Close-up of basil flowers
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Basil plant flowering
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Different basil varieties
Basil leaves
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Uses
Basil
Basil is commonly used as a fresh or dried herb in cooking and is popularly used in beverages in Southeast Asia.
Essential oil can be extracted from the leaves and used in cosmetics, dental products and perfume.
Propagation
Basic requirements Basil is a warm season crop which will grow optimally in areas where daytime temperatures
are consistently above 21°C (70°F) and nighttime temperatures stay above 10°C (50°F). Basil is very sensitive to frost
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
and will need protected if a late cold snap is forecast. The plant will grow best in a fertile, moist soil with a pH
between 6 and 7. Basil requires around 6–8 hours of sun every day and benefits from some shade in the afternoon.
Sowing seeds Basil seeds should be sown indoors 6–8 weeks before planting outside. Sow seeds in a sterile seed
starting mix in seed trays or pots 0.2–1.0 cm (0.08–0.4 in) deep and water gently. Ensure the temperature remains
between 15.5 and 27°C (60–80°F). Seeds should germinate in about 5 days at 21°C (70°F). Transplanting Basil
seedlings can be transplanted to the garden when they are between 6 and 8 weeks old, about 2 weeks after the
last frost date. Plants should be spaced approximately 30 cm (12 in) apart, allowing 45 cm (18 in) between rows.
Pinching back the growing tip of the plants after transplanting will encourage the growth of new shoots.
Harvesting Basil leaves can begin to be harvested any time after the plants have reached a height of 15–20 cm (6–8
in). Harvest leaves by pinching the leaves from the tips of the stems to encourage the more branching. Leaves
should be pinched regularly to keep the plants productive and prevent them from going to seed.
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References
For
Farmers
Young basil plants
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Basil seedlings
Crops
CABI(/plants)
Crop Protection Compendium. (2008). Ocimum basilicum datasheet. Available at:
http://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/36858.
[Accessed 06 November 14]. Paid subscription required. Meyers, M.
Pests
& Diseases (/diseases)
(2003). Basil: An Herb Society of America Guide. The Herb Society of America, Ohio, USA. Available at:
http://www.herbsociety.org/factsheets/Basil%20Guide.pdf. [Accessed 06 November 14]. Free to access. MacKenzie, J.
Topics (/topics)
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(Ed) (2007). Growing basil. University of Minnesota Extension. Available at:
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Library (/video_libraries)
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/growing-basil/index.html.
[Accessed 06 November
14]. Free to access. Tran, T. (2011). Basil Diseases. Cornell University Department of Plant Pathology and PlantMicrobe Biology. Available at: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/basildiseases.pdf. [Accessed 06 November 14].
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Common Pests and Diseases
Diseases
Category : Fungal
Cercospora leaf spot Cercospora ocimicola
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
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Cercospora leaf spot symptoms on
Cercospora
basil
leaf spot symptoms on
Cercospora
basil
leaf spot symptoms on basil
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Cercospora
leaf (/diseases)
spot symptoms on basil
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Symptoms
Circular to irregular dark spots on leaves with light centers
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Cause
Fungus
For
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Management
Avoid overhead irrigation and splashing plants with water, instead water plants from the base and apply a layer of
mulch around the plants to reduce water splash; remove and destroy any symptomatic leaves; minor infections can
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Downy
mildew Peronospora belbahrii
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
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Heavy spore production on the undersurface
Masses of purplish
of thesporangia
leaf may look
onFruiting
the
likeundersurface
dust
Bodies
or
(sporangia)
of a leaf. on lower surface of leaf
dirt on the tissue.
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Dark-colored fungal growth (sign)
Downy
on the
mildew
bottom
symptoms
surface ofon
a basil leaf
Chlorotic (yellow) patches (symptoms)
opposite
on the
the chlorotic
upper surface
(yellow)
of a
patches
basil leaf
(symptoms) on the upper surface of a
with downy mildew
leaf with downy mildew
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Downy mildew symptoms on basil foliage
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Downy mildew symptoms on basil
Downy
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mildew symptoms on basil foliage
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new.s3.amazonaws.com/images/pics/000/001/508/original/5470383Downy mildew symptoms on basil foliage
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Downy mildew symptoms on basil
Downy
foliage
mildew symptoms on basil foliage
Symptoms
Yellowing leaves; discoloration often begins around middle vein and spreads outwards; gray fuzzy or downy growth
on lower surface of the leaves; brown to black angular necrotic patches on the plant.
Cause
Fungus
Comments
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
Yellowing leaves may be mistaken for nutrient deficiency; can be spread by contaminated seed.
Management
Grow tolerant varieties; apply protective fungicide; ensure good air circulation around greenhouse grown plants;
use drip irrigation to avoid wetting foliage.
Fusarium wilt Fusarium oxysporum
Symptoms
Yellow, wilting leaves; brown streaks on lower surface of leaves; stunted growth; death of plant.
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Disease favors warm, wet conditions.
Management
Use only disease free seed; treat seeds with hot water to kill fungi prior to planting; if present in field, rotate crop
every 2-3 years with crop other than basil or mint.
Gray mold Botrytis cinerea
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Conidiophores
with whitish conidial
Conidiophores
heads
with conidia
PPT.jpg?1466360250)
Wilted foliage on cankered stem at left due to grey mold infection
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Gray mold infected basil stem
Conidiophores with conidia arising from infected tissue
Symptoms
Dense, brown to gray fuzzy growth on stems and leaves and fallen plant debris; leaves dying and dropping from
plant; severe lesions on stem may cause plant death.
Cause
Fungus
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
Comments
Promoted by high humidity and poor air circulation.
Management
No chemical treatment available; avoid working in field in rainy conditions; remove infested leaves and/or plants;
avoid overhead irrigation.
Leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
Colletotrichum spp.
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Infected
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Symptoms on leaf
Infected plant
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bacterial
leaf
spot (Pseudomonas
bacterial
cichorii)leaf
symptom
spot infected leaves
Symptoms on stem
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Symptoms on leaves and stem Symptoms of bacterial leaf spot Symptoms
(Pseudomonas
of bacterial
cichorii)leaf
on basil
spot on
leaves
basil foliage
Symptoms
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
Angular or irregular brown or black water-soaked spots on leaves; streaks on stems.
Cause
Bacteria
Comments
High humidity and overhead watering promotes spread of disease.
Management
No treatment when present; use disease free seed and/or transplants; use wide field spacing to promote air
circulation around plants; remove diseased leaves from plant and soil surface immediately.
Root rot Rhizoctonia solani
Pythium spp.
Symptoms
Failure of seeds to germinate; germinated seedlings collapsing; brown, shriveled area at base of stem; roots brown
and water-soaked.
Cause
Fungus
About
Comments(/)
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Promoted by high humidity and poor air circulation.
Team (/team)
Management
Content
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Plant
seeds in sterile soil; plant basil in well-draining soils.
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Category : Other
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Slugs & snails (Gray garden slug, Spotted garden slug, Brown garden snail, European
garden
snail , etc.) Decoratus reticulatum
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Limax
maximus
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Helix aspersa
Cornu aspersum
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dusky slug (Arion subfuscus)
Banded wood snail
amber snails adult
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Pests
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Cartusian
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leaves
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Gray garden slug
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Symptoms
Irregularly shaped holes in leaves and stems; flowers and fruit may also be damaged if present; if infestation is
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severe,
leaves
may be shredded; slime trails present on rocks, walkways, soil and plant foliage; several slug and snail
species are common garden pests; slugs are dark gray to black in color and can range in size from 2.5 to 10 cm (1-4
in); garden snails are generally smaller and possess a rounded or spiral shell.
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Mollusc
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or snails prefer moist, shaded habitats and will shelter in weeds or organic trash; adults may deposit eggs in
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Management
Practice good garden sanitation by removing garden trash, weeds and plant debris to promote good air circulation
and reduce moist habitat for slugs and snails; handpick slugs at night to decrease population; spread wood ashes
or eggshells around plants; attract molluscs by leaving out organic matter such as lettuce or grapefruit skins,
destroy any found feeding on lure; sink shallow dishes filled with beer into the soil to attract and drown the
molluscs; chemical controls include ferrous phosphate for organic gardens and metaldehyde (e.g. Buggeta) and
carbaryl (e.g Sevin bait) for non-organic growers.
Pests
Category : Insects
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Basil | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation
Aphids (Various spp.) Various
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Winged adult aphid
Praying Mantis feeding on basil Aphid
aphid
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Aphid on basil
Aphid feeding on basil
Q & A (/posts)
Symptoms
Small soft bodied insects on underside of leaves and/or stems of plant; usually green or yellow in color, but may be
pink, brown, red or black depending on species and host plant; if aphid infestation is heavy it may cause leaves to
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and/or distorted, necrotic spots on leaves and/or stunted shoots; aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance
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called
honeydew
which encourages the growth of sooty mold on the plants.
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Distinguishing features include the presence of cornicles (tubular structures) which project backwards from the
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body of the aphid; will generally not move very quickly when disturbed.
Management
If aphid population is limited to just a few leaves or shoots then the infestation can be pruned out to provide
control; check transplants for aphids before planting; use tolerant varieties if available; reflective mulches such as
silver colored plastic can deter aphids from feeding on plants; sturdy plants can be sprayed with a strong jet of
water to knock aphids from leaves; insecticides are generally only required to treat aphids if the infestation is very
high - plants generally tolerate low and medium level infestation; insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem or canola
oil are usually the best method of control; always check the labels of the products for specific usage guidelines
prior to use.
Cutworms, loopers, owlet moths, and underwings Spodoptera exigua
Trichoplusia ni
and others
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Cutworm damage
Loopers
Larave on basil leaf
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Larva
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Pests & Diseases (/diseases)
Larvae feeding on basil leaf
Larave
Topics (/topics)
Symptoms
The early stage larvae feeds on terminal clusters. Later stage larvae skeletonize the leaves. Also, they will cut the
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seedling
stem
near the base resulting in heavy loss.
Cause
Insect Researchers
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The insect
has a wide host range.
Management
Register
or the larvae and kill them. Remove and destroy weeds and crop residue. Spray biocontrol agent
Hand
pick
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(bacteria/virus) to kill insects. If infestation is severe, spray suitable insecticide.
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Flea beetle Phylotreta spp.
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Flea beetle on basil
Flea beetle damage to leaves
Adult flea beetle on a leaf.
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Pests
& Diseases
Flea beetle
and (/diseases)
damage on basil leaf
Topics (/topics)
Symptoms
Small holes or pits in leaves that give the foliage a characteristic “shothole” appearance; young plants and seedlings
Q & A (/posts)
Video
Library (/video_libraries)
are particularly
susceptible; plant growth may be reduced; if damage is severe the plant may be killed; the pest
responsible for the damage is a small (1.5–3.0 mm) dark colored beetle which jumps when disturbed; the beetles
are often shiny in appearance.
For
Researchers
Stress
Map (https://stressmap.plantvillage.psu.edu)
Cause
Insects
Locust
Map (/panel/analytics/locust_surveys)
Comments
Younger
Register or plants are more susceptible to flea beetle damage than older ones; older plants can tolerate infestation;
SIGNbeetles
IN
flea
may overwinter on nearby weed species, in plant debris or in the soil; insects may go through a second
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or third generation in one year.
Management
In areas where flea beetles are a problem, floating row covers may have to be used prior to the emergence of the
beetles to provide a physical barrier to protect young plants; plant seeds early to allow establishment before the
beetles become a problem - mature plants are less susceptible to damage; trap crops may provide a measure of
control - cruciferous plants are best; application of a thick layer of mulch may help prevent beetles reaching
surface; application on diamotecoeus earth or oils such as neem oil are effective control methods for organic
growers; application of insecticides containing carbaryl, spinosad, bifenthrin and permethrin can provide adequate
control of beetles for up to a week but will need reapplied.
Grasshoppers Various sp.
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Grasshopper feeding on soybeanGrasshopper
leaves
feeding on basil leaf
Grasshopper on basil
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Pests
Diseases
(/diseases)nymphs damage
Initial&stage
grasshopper
Topics (/topics)
Symptoms
Both adult and nymphs feed on foliage, buds, and tender stems. The first stage nymphs feed on leaves by forming
Q & A (/posts)
Video
Library
(/video_libraries)
circular
holes.
As the insect develops it feeds on entire foliage. Grasshoppers are very eager feeders.
Cause
Insect Researchers
For
Stress Map (https://stressmap.plantvillage.psu.edu)
Comments
Locust
Map
It feeds
on(/panel/analytics/locust_surveys)
several crops including weeds.
Management
Register or
Encourage
birds in the field. If population is severe, spray suitable insecticide.
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Japanese
beetle Popillia japonica
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Japanese beetle adult
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
Adult
larvae
Japanese beetle on basil leaf
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Pests
Diseases (/diseases)
Adult&Japanese
beetle
Topics (/topics)
Symptoms
Leaves skeletonized (only veins remaining); flowers and buds damaged; plant damage may be extensive; adult
Q & A (/posts)
Video
Library
(/video_libraries)
insect
is a metallic
green-bronze beetle with tufts of white hair protruding from under wing covers on each side of
the body; adult beetles are approximately 13 mm in length; larvae are cream-white grubs which develop in the soil.
CauseResearchers
For
Insect
Stress
Map (https://stressmap.plantvillage.psu.edu)
Locust
Map (/panel/analytics/locust_surveys)
Comments
One beetle generation every 1-2 years; pheromone traps may actually attract more beetles to home gardens and
should
generally be avoided; beetle overwinters as larvae in soil; beetle has an extensive range of over 300 host
Register or
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plants.
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Management
If beetles were a problem in the previous year, use floating row covers to protect plants or spray kaolin clay; adult
beetles can be hand picked from plants and destroyed by placing in soapy water; parasitic nematodes can be
applied to soil to reduce the number of overwintering grubs; insecticidal soaps or neem oil can help reduce beetle
populations.
Leafminers Liriomyza spp.
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Leafminer larave
Leafminer fly
Leafminer pupae
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Pests
& Diseases
Larvae
still with (/diseases)
in leaf mine
Leafminer damage
Topics (/topics)
Symptoms
Thin, white, winding trails on leaves; heavy mining can result in white blotches on leaves and leaves dropping from
Q & A (/posts)
Video
Library
(/video_libraries)
the plant
prematurely;
early infestation can cause fruit yield to be reduced; adult leafminer is a small black and
yellow fly which lays its eggs in the leaf; larave hatch and feed on leaf interior.
CauseResearchers
For
Stress
Map (https://stressmap.plantvillage.psu.edu)
Insects
Locust
Map (/panel/analytics/locust_surveys)
Comments
Mature larvae drop from leaves into soil to pupate; entire lifecycle can take as little as 2 weeks in warm weather;
insect
go through 7 to 10 generations per year.
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or
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Management
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Check transplants for signs of leafminer damage prior to planting; remove plants from soil immediately after
harvest; only use insecticides when leafminer damage has been identified as unnecessary spraying will also reduce
populations of their natural enemies.
Category : Nematodes
Root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp.
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Galls on a bean root infested with
Galls
theor
root
nodules
knot nematode
associatedMeloidogyne
with the rootspp.
system
in caused by root-knot
the field.
nematodes. May be small or large.
Symptoms
Galls on roots which can be up to 3.3 cm (1 in) in diameter but are usually smaller; reduction in plant vigor;
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yellowing
plants which wilt in hot weather.
Team
(/team)
Cause
Content
Nematode
Blog
(/blogposts)
Comments
Donate
(/donate)
Galls can appear as quickly as a month prior to planting; nematodes prefer sandy soils and damage in areas of field
Contact us (mailto:mayor@plantvillage.psu.edu)
or garden with this type of soil is most likely.
Management
For
Farmers
Plant resistant varieties if nematodes are known to be present in the soil ;check roots of plants mid-season or
Crops (/plants)
sooner if symptoms indicate nematodes; solarizing soil can reduce nematode populations in the soil and levels of
inoculum of many other pathogens.
Pests & Diseases (/diseases)
Topics (/topics)
Q & A (/posts)
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For Researchers
Stress Map (https://stressmap.plantvillage.psu.edu)
About (/)
Locust Map (/panel/analytics/locust_surveys)
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Register or
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Team (/team)
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Blog (/blogposts)
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Contact us (mailto:mayor@plantvillage.psu.edu)
For Farmers
Crops (/plants)
Pests & Diseases (/diseases)
Topics (/topics)
Q & A (/posts)
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