Stem rot in stock matthiola plants - Ask Extension
Hello, I have had about 3000 Matthiola plants die in my high tunnel this winter. They all had a canker at the base of the stem and the stem was rotten...
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Stem rot in stock matthiola plants #823297
Asked March 24, 2023, 2:09 AM EDT
Hello, I have had about 3000 Matthiola plants die in my high tunnel this winter. They all had a canker at the base of the stem and the stem was rotten and brown inside. They were in a raised bed in a very wet area with heavy clay. The bed does not flood but the paths often do. Could this be Phytophthora? Any other ideas?
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Patricia and thanks for your great pictures of your poor Matthiolas. I'm pretty sure this is bacterial blight, and other than boiling the seeds before planting them (which affects their germination rate) there doesn't seem to be an effective control.
Since the bacteria can live in the soil for 2 years, it would be best to plant something that is not in the brassica family next year.
The wet soil helped to spread the bacteria too, so keep that in mind when you decide what to plant next. Here is an article about the disease and I'm so sorry for your losing so many plants.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/stock-matthiola-spp-bacterial-blight
Since the bacteria can live in the soil for 2 years, it would be best to plant something that is not in the brassica family next year.
The wet soil helped to spread the bacteria too, so keep that in mind when you decide what to plant next. Here is an article about the disease and I'm so sorry for your losing so many plants.
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/stock-matthiola-spp-bacterial-blight
