Clubroot

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is a common disease of cabbages, radishes, turnips and other plants belonging to the family Brassicaceae (mustard family). It is an important disease, affecting an estimated 10% of the total cultured area worldwide.

Identifying Features
Gall formation or distortion takes place on latent roots and gives the shape of a club or spindle. In the cabbage such attacks on the roots cause undeveloped heads or a failure to head at all, followed often by decline in vigor or by death.

Treatment
The potential of cultural practices to reduce crop losses due to clubroot are limited, and chemical treatments to control the fungus are either banned due to environmental regulations or are not cost effective.

Prevention
Breeding of resistant cultivars is the most promising alternative.