RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL CONDITIONS AND OCCURRENCE OF ROOT ROT DISEASE IN A FOREST NURSERY AT KUBALPOLA.

Abstract

Soil conditions influence the seasonal development and geographical distribution of soil-borne fungi and development of root diseases.

Diseased seedlings and soil samples were collected from Kumbalpola nursery which is one of the largest teak nurseries in Sri Lanka. The results of the survey showed that almost 17% of seedling were affected by root rot. Rhizoctonia species, one of the soil inhabitants, was identified as the causal organism of root rot of teak. The fungal populations of infested and non-infested soils of the nursery were studied.

The environmental factors which influence the severity of the disease, including soil moisture, soil pH, soil temperature, organic carbon, organic matter and nitrogen contents, were compared in both soils.