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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419099
Research Project: Disease Management in Small Fruit and Nursery Crops Based on Knowledge of Pathogen Diversity, Biology, and Environmental Effects

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: A disease love triangle: water, rhodies, and root rot

Author
item Weiland, Gerald
item Scagel, Carolyn
item Grunwald, Niklaus
item Davis, Elizabeth
item Beck, Bryan
item Mitchell, Jesse
item NACKLEY, LLOYD - Oregon State University

Submitted to: The Digger
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2024
Publication Date: 11/1/2024
Citation: Weiland, J.E., Scagel, C., Grunwald, N., Davis, A., Beck, B., and Mitchell, J. 2024. A disease love triangle: water, rhodies, and root rot. Digger 68 (11): 41-45.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The $11.6 million Rhododendron production industry is often severely impacted by Phytophthora root rot. Since Phytophthora thrives in moist conditions, we examined how reducing irrigation affects disease development. Reducing irrigation did not result in less root rot. Instead, the number of plants that developed disease was similar across the different watering schedules. Our results show that once infection has occurred, irrigation management is unlikely to reduce infection. Instead, growers should focus on preventing root rot by reducing irrigation before the plants become infected.