Carrot Thielaviopsis
Black Root Rot of Carrot
 Black Root rot of carrot, caused by Thielaviopsis basicola, is primarily a post harvest disease. The pathogen occurs worldwide and has a wide host range, including plants in the legume, potato, and cucurbit families, as well as numerous ornamentals and woody plants. The disease occasionally occurs on seedlings or mature carrots in the field and is more serious on soils with high organic matter content.
Symptoms of T. basicola are superficial, irregular black lesions which occur in a random pattern. The discoloration is limited to the epidermis and the black coloration is masses of dark brown to black chlamydospores. The pathogen rapidly invades wounded tissue and is favored by long post harvest periods without cooling.
Since this disease occurs primarily after harvest and mechanical grading, avoiding wounding and the prompt removal of field heat are necessary control measures. T. basicola is rarely a serious problem under optimum storage conditions (0-1˚ C). Good disease control can be obtained when harvested carrots are dipped in chlorinated, hydrocooled water or solutions of potassium sorbate and propionic acid.
References
Davis, R.M. and R.N. Raid.2002.Compendium of Umbelliferous Crop Diseases. APS Press.73 pp.
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