Cabbage in the process of growth can get sick with a fungal disease - keel. For a successful struggle, you need to understand why it arises. About the causes of the appearance, the first signs of the disease, methods of control, preventive measures - more.
Description of the disease and pathogen
Kila cabbage is one of the most dangerous and common diseases. Almost every farmer knows the "mutilated" roots of plants. The causative agent is the inferior fungus Plasmodiophora brassicae.
It develops only inside living cultures; for the winter it is stored as spores in the soil. In spring, zoospores are formed from them - this is the stage of the life cycle of algae and a number of lower fungi. Using flagella, the zoospore in a liquid medium moves inside the plant through the hair roots. Infected cells very quickly increase in volume and grow.
A plant can become sick at any time during the growing season.
Signs of the disease
In some cases, at the initial stage, the disease does not affect the appearance of the cabbage. The gardener, caring for the plantings, may not even realize that the culture has become infected. However, inspection of the root system puts everything in its place.
On the roots of young bushes with the naked eye you can see a variety of growths and swellings. They block the absorption capacity of the roots, so there is a violation of the absorption of water and minerals by plants. On the roots of healthy seedlings, growths appear on the lateral roots in the form of icicles and small beads.
With a strong and early infection with keel, cabbage seedlings lag behind in growth, its leaves turn yellow. Sick plants are unsuitable for further cultivation, since they are poorly rooted, the head of cabbage does not form at all or is not completely formed, that is, it is impossible to obtain a good crop suitable for further long-term storage.
One of the main signs of the defeat of cabbage is the wilting of the lower leaves in hot weather.
Disease provocateurs
The causative agent, which got into the soil from decomposed plants, can be spread throughout the area using water, soil insects and earthworms. In non-infected areas, the keel is introduced mainly with diseased seedlings. And also weeds can be a source of infection.
The following climatic conditions contribute to the development of keels:
- air temperature 18-25 ° C heat;
- environmental humidity 75-90%;
- soil acidity of 5.6-6.5, that is, acidic and slightly acidic soils, in a neutral environment, the pathogen activity decreases, and in an alkaline (pH greater than 7.0) it dies.
Most often, this disease is recorded on the territory of the Non-Black Earth Region, the soils of which are characterized by increased humidity and acidity. She is a frequent guest on heavy and wet soils.
However, overdried soil also contributes to the awakening of microorganisms, as well as depleted land, which has a lack of calcium and potassium, as well as trace elements - boron, zinc and chlorine, humus.
As soon as the lesion of the soil is detected, the site is “sent” to quarantine, which can last several years.
Methods of struggle
Resting spores of the parasite fungus live in the soil up to 7 years, but if you do not plant the host plants on the site, their viability decreases every year. Therefore, one of the effective methods of combating this disease is crop rotation, but they also use folk remedies, as well as chemical preparations.
Crop rotation
Plants are planted on the site with the keel, which are not only resistant to it, but also accelerate the death of the fungus.
The “pills” of the keel are:
- All plants of the nightshade family are tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, pepper, allspice tobacco, hybrid petunias, and others. They will heal the earth from a pathogen in 3 years.
- Crops of the haze family - beets, spinach, chard. The last two families will help clear the land of spores even faster - in 2 years.
- Representatives of the lily family - onions, garlic, lilies, hyacinths and others.
The best therapeutic effect was shown in mixed plantings of tomato and spring garlic. The soil in this case is healed for 1 season. The following spring, beets are planted on this bed for reinsurance.
Folk remedies
If cabbage got sick at a later age, then you can try to save the crop with folk remedies. But, it should be remembered that the keel will not be completely cured in the current season. Apply:
- Infusion of wood ash. At the first sign, all wilted, yellowed leaves are torn off, and the bush is watered with infusion of wood ash - 10 glasses of the substance is poured into 10 liters of water and left for 2 days. Then 1 liter of infusion is poured into a bucket of water, stirred and poured 500 ml under each bush.
Water the plants after the main watering. Then they sprinkle higher cabbage - this contributes to the additional growth of roots in the upper part of the stem. - Organics Once every 7 days, organic fertilizers are applied under the plants - mullein, vermicompost, compost, yeast. They help restrain the activity of the fungus and its spread.
- Tops. After harvesting at the site, it spreads the ground beet and quinoa tops, introduces a large amount of organic matter and digs the soil.
- Mortar. Infected beds are also watered with a lime solution - 150 g of lime is dissolved in 5 l of water. Under each bush, 500 ml of the prepared solution is poured. After this procedure, the pH of the earth will increase, it acquires an alkaline reaction.
If the keel showed itself at the last stage of development, then all the heads of cabbage are removed, and the soil is immediately treated.
Chemical and biological preparations
This pathogen is resistant to most antifungal drugs. But empirically, several drugs were found that really help inhibit the growth and development of the fungus. It:
- Trichodermin;
- Previkur;
- Glyocladin;
- Topaz;
- Fitosporin-M;
- Alirin B;
- Fundazole.
However, no drug can destroy the parasite fungus and cure cabbage, they only inhibit the development of the fungus and prevent its reproduction.
Kee spore test
Experts recommend that before returning cabbage to the beds, conduct a test for the presence of fungal spores. To do this, in the spring the plot is sown with fast-growing Beijing cabbage. Throughout the growing season, it is gradually dug up together with the root system, and all the roots are carefully examined.
Young plants begin to dig up, from which the first real leaves have grown, and before heading. If not a single root has thickenings, growths, then the soil has undergone successful treatment and cruciferous plants can be planted fearlessly on it.
The appearance of even one “icicle” on the roots indicates the presence of spores in the soil, treatment must be extended for another year.
Preventive actions
In order not to waste time and energy on the treatment of this dangerous disease, adhere to some preventive rules.
Kilo-resistant varieties of white cabbage
Varieties of cabbage resistant to the disease are presented in the table:
Name | Ripening period | Growing region | Weight of head of cabbage, kg |
Kilagerb | mid-season | Northwest, Central | 2,4-3,0 |
Kilagreg | early ripening | North-West, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, Ural, West Siberian | 1,7-2,5 |
Kilaton | late ripening | North-West, Central, Volga-Vyatka | 1,9-3,0 |
Hope | mid-season | all but the North and North Caucasus District | 2,4-3,4 |
Ramkila | late ripening | Central | 2,0-2,7 |
Tequila | mid-season | Northern, Central, Volga-Vyatka, North Caucasian, Ural, West Siberian, Far Eastern | 2,3-3,0 |
Cabbage Kilagery
Cabbage Kilagreg
Cabbage Kilaton
Cabbage Hope
Ramkila Cabbage
Tequila cabbage
Presowing preparation of seeds and soil and what to add to the hole before planting
Before sowing, seeds are treated in several ways:
- soak them in hot water (50 ° C) for 20 minutes, the water should not cool; then the seed is cooled and well dried;
- or leave the seeds in a 1.5% mustard solution for 6 hours.
A week before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, the soil is treated with a solution prepared from 300 g of copper sulphate, 300 g of hydrated lime and 8 l of water, or treated with a 0.1% Fundazole solution.
The roots of the seedlings, before transplanting to a permanent place, are kept in Fitosporin-M solution for 2 hours or processed in a suspension of sulfur-containing preparations - colloidal sulfur, Tiovit Jet, Cumulus DF.
When planting without an earthen coma, the roots of the seedlings are rolled in lime flour or dipped in a lime-clay mash. The second option is preferable, since lime is well attached to the roots.
Timely weeds are removed, especially representatives of the cruciferous family - shepherd’s bag, colza, yarut, field mustard. The roots of these plants are an excellent refuge of spores in the winter.
In a hole before planting cabbage, it is recommended to add 1 handful of wood ash or ash.
Gardeners tips
Experienced gardeners know how to deal with a fungal disease and protect their crops from it forever:
- for prevention, marigolds, spinach and calendula are planted next to cabbage;
- pour seedlings with lime milk (80 g of substance is stirred in 1 liter of water) 2-3 days before transplanting it into the open ground;
- in each well before planting seedlings add 1 dessert spoon of calcium nitrate and mix it with the ground;
- cabbage is grown in narrow beds, which allows you to localize the disease if necessary and quickly clear the soil of the pathogen.
Kila is a dangerous disease of fungal origin, which can completely leave the gardener without a crop of vegetables. Timely fight against the disease and compliance with preventive measures will help to cope with it and forever forget about its existence.