Protection methods

The fight against this soil fungus is only justified to limit the damage of the two formidable viruses that it transmits to lettuce.

The implementation of crop rotations is not effective because this fungus keeps for a very long time in the soil and it is also very polyphagous. Heavy and wet soils will be drained. They can be disinfected. Disinfection with a fumigant may be considered. Fumigants and / or methods of disinfection lead to very random results. Particular care should be taken not to reinfect disinfected soil (consult the sheets MLBVV and LRNA ).

In order to reduce the risk of this parasitic fungus developing on your farm, it will be essential to use a healthy substrate and plants of the same quality. Plants produced in mini-clods should not be placed directly on the ground, especially if it has not been disinfected; a plastic film will have to insulate them. They will be planted on mounds to avoid water retention at the roots.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the water . Indeed, the latter can be the source of contamination. UV rays would have some efficiency in partially ridding water and recycled nutrient solutions of Pythium spp. and Olpidium virulentus .

Given the large number of resting spores present in the roots, it will be essential to eliminate as many root systems as possible in the yard and at the end of the crop.


NB: The legislation on pesticides evolving very quickly, we advise you to consult the e-phy site of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries which is an online catalog of plant protection products and their uses, fertilizers and culture media approved in France. This also applies to all biological products based on microorganisms or natural substances.