Cabbage syphilisis the most dangerous disease of cruciferous plants in Poland. It infects most crops and cruciferous weeds. The culprit of cabbage syphilis is the fungus Plasmodiophora brassicae, whose spores can live in the soil and re-infect plants for up to 10 years. See how to recognizesymptoms of cabbage syphilisand how to protect vegetables against this disease. Here are the best ways tofight cabbage syphilisand recommended sprays!
Cabbage syphilis on cauliflower roots
Fig. Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Symptoms of cabbage syphilis
Cabbage syphilis attacks all cruciferous vegetablessuch as: head cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Brussels sprouts and other types of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, as well as swede and turnips. Sometimes this disease also appears on oilseed rape.
Symptoms of cabbage syphilis are characteristic sprouts on the roots , sometimes fused into one irregular lump. Initially, small whitish or yellowish nodules appear, gradually growing into irregular outgrowths, pale yellow inside. Infected cabbage roots have a limited ability to conduct water and nutrients. As a result, plants develop slowly and often wilt and fail to form heads.
With the strong development of cabbage syphilis, the plants die en masse . After some time, the sprouts rot, darken and disintegrate. Rotting tissue smells bad. The infested root system becomes the main source of soil infection in the years to come.
Cabbage syphilis on rape roots
Fig. Leafhopper65, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Cabbage syphilis often appears during the production of seedlings under covers or on a seedbed, from where it is transferred to the field.The development of cabbage syphilis is favored by acidified soil, high humidity and a temperature of 22-25 ° CAt soil temperatures below 15 ° C, root infection is very slow or does not occur.
Cabbage syphilis test
Before sowing cabbage seeds, we can perform a simple test that will show if the fungus that causes cabbage syphilis is present in the ground. To do this, sow cress seeds, and then maintain high substrate humidity and a temperature of 22-25 ° C. If there is a fungus that causes syphilis in the ground, the cress seedlings will be attacked very quickly and show symptoms of this cabbage disease.
Fighting cabbage syphilis
Cabbage syphilis is a disease that often attacks cruciferous vegetables . Already at the stage of planning the cultivation, we should take care of appropriate preventive measures to reduce the possibility of the occurrence of cabbage syphilis.Remember to:
- produce seedlings on substrates and soils free of cabbage syphilis (it is best to use sterilized substrates or perform the above-described test for the presence of cabbage syphilis in the ground before sowing),
- apply rotation with a 4-year break in the cultivation of cabbage and other cruciferous plants in the same position,
- if there is cabbage syphilis in the field, do not grow cabbage for at least 5 years,
- cabbage should not be grown on acidic soils. If the soil for cabbage cultivation is too acidic, liming the soil should be carried out, bringing the pH to the pH of 6.5 to 7.5, optimal for cruciferous vegetables. As a calcium fertilizer recommended for use in crops on plots and in gardens, we especially recommend dolomite of natural origin,
Preparations of natural origin are very effective in combating cabbage syphilis , which additionally have a positive effect on the yield of cabbage. It is worth using them at the beginning of seedling production.
One of such preparations isAgavit, an ecological growth stimulatorIt can be used as a substitute for T-seed dressing for soaking seedling roots.Before planting the cabbage seedlings, soak them in 100% Agavite, and then spray them 2 or 3 times every 7-10 days with a 10% Agavite solution (1 liter should be diluted in 9 liters of water).Cabbage works well against syphilis also Evasiol, a preparation of horsetail, the content of which 50 ml is dissolved in 5 liters of water. Water the cabbage seedlings with the ready-made preparation every 10 days.
If cabbage syphilis has appeared in our fieldthe infested plant roots should be removed immediately so that they do not decompose and contaminate the soil. We do not grow cabbage in the contaminated field for at least the next 5 years.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
