Diseases Affecting Lettuce Plants
Diseases affecting lettuce plants are either bacterial or fungal. Fungal lettuce diseases, such as damping off or sclerotinia drop (white mold), are caused by soil borne fungi that thrive in cool, damp soil and are primarily lettuce seedling diseases. Treat these lettuce diseases by spacing the plants apart to provide airflow, and by reducing the amount of irrigation the seedlings receive. If you live in an area of more consistent precipitation and cooler temperatures, try planting fungal disease resistant lettuce such as ‘Optima’ to prevent lettuce seedling diseases from taking hold. Bottom rot, another fungal lettuce disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, attacks more mature plants. Lesions appear on the plant at the midrib and leaf blade, causing rotting during warm, wet conditions. Bacterial leaf spot appears as small, angular lesions and progresses to larger lesions and necrotic areas, which dry out and eventually collapse. Sporulating downy mildew, caused by Bremia lactucae, also causes necrotic lesions but affects the older leaves of the lettuce first. The bacterium Rhizomonas suberifaciens afflicts the roots, causing them to become very brittle and resulting in small head sizes.
Lettuce Disease Control
Of course, there’s a variety of pests that assault lettuce plants, and many will spread common lettuce diseases as they move from plant to plant. Check around the lettuce plant for uninvited guests to potentially eliminate disease of any kind as the cause for deterioration. Most pests can be eliminated by the use of insecticidal soap, introduction of beneficial insects, planting nectar-rich plants (like cilantro or sweet alyssum), spreading organic bait and the use of row covers. If you have established that the frail, fading lettuce is not the result of pests but of disease, the following tips for lettuce disease control may help:
Treating lettuce diseases may be a matter of sowing disease or fungal resistant varieties, planting the appropriate variety for your climate at the correct time of year, appropriate spacing and irrigation. For some diseases affecting lettuce plants, weed control is essential as is crop rotation. Planting lettuce in raised beds may also be effective in warding off some pathogens. Lastly, a chemical control measure may be used. Of course, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application.
