Thanatephorus cucumeris

Thanatephorus cucumeris is a species of fungus in the family Ceratobasidiaceae. It is a plant pathogen that causes a disease known as web blight, affecting a wide range of host plants. The fungus is also known as Rhizoctonia solani in its anamorph (asexual) stage.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1890 by Heinrich Anton de Bary, a German mycologist. The name Thanatephorus cucumeris is derived from the Greek words thanatos (death) and phoros (bearing), referring to the destructive nature of the fungus. The anamorph name Rhizoctonia solani is derived from the Greek words rhiza (root) and octonia (killing), again referring to the pathogenic nature of the fungus.

Description

Thanatephorus cucumeris is a basidiomycete fungus, meaning it reproduces sexually through the formation of basidiospores. In its anamorph stage, it reproduces asexually through the formation of sclerotia, which are compact masses of hardened fungal mycelium.

Pathogenicity

Thanatephorus cucumeris is a soil-borne pathogen that can infect a wide range of host plants, including cucumber, potato, rice, and tobacco. The fungus causes a disease known as web blight, characterized by the presence of a web-like mycelium on the surface of the infected plant. The disease can result in significant yield losses in affected crops.

Management

Management of Thanatephorus cucumeris involves a combination of cultural practices, chemical control, and the use of resistant varieties. Cultural practices include crop rotation and the removal of infected plant debris. Chemical control involves the use of fungicides, while resistant varieties are developed through plant breeding programs.

See also

• List of cucumber diseases
• List of potato diseases
• List of rice diseases
• List of tobacco diseases