Belly Rot of Cucurbit Crops
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Belly rot (Rhizoctonia solani) primarily affects cucumber (rarely on other cucurbits) and develops when fruit comes into contact with soil. Symptoms include sunken cankers (lesions) that are tan-brown in color and resemble a dry rot. Disease may be more prevalent when powdery mildew (see #38) is present. This fungus may also cause damping-off of seedlings.
Belly rot on cucumber.
(Photo: Cheryl Kaiser, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Space plants for air circulation and rapid drying.
- Use physical barriers (mulches) to prevent fruit from contacting soil.
- Apply protectant fungicides when weather becomes warm and wet.
- Promptly remove and destroy diseased plant material during growing season.
- Manage weeds and potential alternative hosts.
- Avoid movement of infested soil to clean fields.
- Promptly destroy crop residues after harvest.
- Deep plow to bury residual inoculum.
- Rotate with nonhost crops for at least 3 years.
