VIEW ARTICLE

Disease Control and Pest Management

Influence of Polyethylene Oxide Seed Tape on Growth of Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium aphanidermatum and on Damping-off of Tomato. M. Wetzel, Former graduate student, Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Science, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762, Present address of senior author: Rua Lobo da Costa 1471, Pelotas, RS. Brazil 96100; W. E. Batson, associate professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Science, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762. Phytopathology 70:558-559. Accepted for publication 18 November 1979. Copyright 1980 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-70-558.

Seedling emergence from soil artificially infested with Rhizoctonia solani or Pythium aphanidermatum was greater when untreated tomato seed were placed in polyethylene oxide tape as compared to direct seeding. Radial growth of mycelium of R. solani and P. aphanidermatum was significantly reduced on media amended with polyethylene oxide tape. No significant differences were found in fresh or dry weights of seedlings, root-hypocotyl, or cotyledon fractions from tomato seed germinated in solutions containing various levels of polyethylene oxide.