Relationship between Pythium and oxygen in cucumber cultivation investigated

Original Post on https://www.hortidaily.com/

The Stichting Control Food & Flowers has studied the relationship between substrate oxygenation and susceptibility to Pythium in cucumber cultivation. In the trial, two treatments were compared, one with and one without oxygen treatment. The conclusion was clear: only an oxygen-rich root environment offers resistance to Pythium attack.

In one treatment, the oxygen level was normal, or the average level measured in practice. In the other treatment, oxygen was kept at a high level through an aeration system. In the trial, which lasted six weeks in total, Pythium was added to the plants at a certain point. The control plants were not given Pythium.

Analysis showed that the fungus was indeed present on the roots of the plants where Pythium was added. However, the symptoms were much less pronounced or almost non-existent in the plants with oxygen treatment. The plants without aeration had strong Pythium symptoms, at the roots, in the rockwool plug, and at the bottom of the stem, resulting in complete flaccidity. In the plants with aeration, the number of roots was much greater. It was striking that there was no, or hardly any, difference between the control plants without contamination and the contaminated plants with aeration

Measuring is knowing, the researchers conclude. Parasites such as Pythium are particularly likely to strike during warm days with high temperatures and poor water quality. Real-time measurements provide better insight into what is happening in the root environment. With a sufficiently high oxygen level in the substrate, the grower ensures more resilience in the plant.

Publication date: Thu 28 Apr 2022