Irrigation Frequency and Volume has Little Influence on Phytophthora Root Rot in Container-grown Rhododendron

Abstract We evaluated whether reducing irrigation frequency and volume alters the ability of Phytophthora plurivora and P. cinnamomi to cause root rot on rhododendron grown in a noninfested potting medium or media infested with 1 or 100 propagules per gram (ppg) of pathogen. Plants were irrigated to maintain a substrate moisture of >70% container capacity (1.0X), one-half volume of 1.0X (0.5X), or two times the volume of 1.0X at each irrigation event for one week, followed by no irrigation, until soil moisture reached <50% container capacity. Aboveground disease symptoms (chlorosis, stomatal conductance, wilting, and plant death) were evaluated weekly and root rot, pathogen presence, plant biomass, and nutrient uptake were measured at the end of each trial. Both pathogens generally caused mild disease at 1 ppg and severe disease at 100 ppg. Reducing irrigation did little to lessen disease caused by either pathogen once infection had occurred. Instead, severe root infection often led to increased soil moisture and root rot across all irrigation treatments as roots became progressively compromised in their ability to take up water. Results show that reducing irrigation after infection has occurred is unlikely to effectively control root rot. Species used in this study: Phytophthora species (Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands; Phytophthora plurivora T. Jung and T.I. Burgess); rhododendron, Rhododendron catawbiense Michx. ‘Album', ‘Roseum Elegans', and ‘Roseum Pink'.