Question

Write about the reproduction and economic importance of pythium

Answer 1

Pythium Debaryanum is the classic example of the most common species of pythium which causes the widespread “damping off” disease of tobacco, tomato, mustard, chillies and cress seedlings. The fungus lives saprophytic-ally in the moist, humus soil and attacks the seedlings at the soil level. Thereafter it lives as a parasite.

Mostly it occurs in tobacco seed beds but it also grows readily on decaying animal and vegetable material floating in water. A luxuriant growth of this fungus can be easily obtained by germinating tobacco, cress or mustard seeds in moist soil or on moist blotting paper under a bell jar.