Crop

Soft Rot Threat: Protecting Ginger From Destruction

Did you know that ginger is a highly demanded spice crop, with India alone producing around 2.12 million metric tons in 2022? 

However, diseases like soft rot or rhizome rot can threaten your yield, quality, and marketability. But fear not! You have the power to protect your rhizomes and achieve a thriving ginger field. Say goodbye to worries about market value as buyers will no longer reject your produce due to disease concerns. Get ready to enjoy better prices and greater profitability.  

All you want to know about the pathogen’s survival conditions

Soft rot in ginger is caused by soil-borne fungi, namely Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium vexans and Pythium myriotylum. These fungi thrive in warm and moist conditions, typically during the onset of the southwest monsoon.  

They have two ways of survival:

  1. They can persist in diseased rhizomes that are kept for seed purposes and
  2. They produce resting spores that can contaminate the soil from infected rhizomes.

Younger ginger sprouts are particularly vulnerable to these pathogens and the disease becomes more severe when accompanied by nematode infestations. Inadequate soil drainage, leading to waterlogged conditions in the field, further increases the intensity of the disease. 

Identify the signs of soft rot in your ginger field

  • Symptoms of soft rot or rhizome rot in ginger begin at the collar region of the pseudo stem and progresses both upwards and downwards.
  • The affected collar region becomes brown and water-soaked (soft and mushy to touch).
  • The rotting spreads to the rhizomes resulting in soft rot with a distinct foul smell.
  • As the disease progresses, the roots may also become infected. Affected stems can be easily pulled off.
  • Light yellowing of the leaf margins on the lower leaves, which gradually extends to the entire leaf surface.
  • During the early stages of the disease infection, the middle portion of the leaves may remain green while the margins turn yellow.
  • The yellowing then spreads to all leaves of the plant, starting from the lower region and moving upwards.
  • Affected pseudo stems droop, wither and dry.

Rhizome Rot or Soft Rot in Ginger Management

Cultural Management soft rot in ginger

  • Select disease free seed rhizomes for planting.
  • Select well-drained soils for planting ginger.
  • Before planting, cover the moist soil with transparent polythene sheet for about 45 – 50 days (Soil solarization).
  • Follow crop rotation with non-host crops like maize, soybean or cotton for at least 2 – 3 years.

Mechanical Management soft rot in ginger

  • Remove and destroy the infected plants if you notice them in the field.

Biological Management soft rot in ginger

Product name Technical content Dosage
Anshul Trichomax Trichoderma viride Soil Drenching: 3 gm/lit of water

Soil Application: 2 kg of product + 100 kg of FYM/compost 

Multiplex Safe Root Bio Nematicide Trichoderma harzianum Soil Drenching: 10 gm/lit of water

Soil application: 2 – 5 kg of product + 500 kg of compost 

Ecomonas Pseudomonas fluorescens Soil Drenching: 10 gm/lit of water

Soil Application: 2 – 3 kg/acre 

Chemical Management soft rot in ginger

  • Treat the seed rhizomes with Mancozeb 75% WP (3 gm/kg of seeds) or Metalaxyl 4% + Mancozeb 64% WP (1.5 gm/kg seed) for 30 minutes before storage as well as before planting to reduce the disease incidence.
  • Apply Neel Cu-Copper EDTA 12% at 0.5 gm/lit of water (dry conditions) or at 1.5 – 2 gm/lit of water (wet or rainy conditions).
  • Drench the soil with any of these mentioned fungicides or 1% Bordeaux mixture.
Product name Technical content Dosage
Indofil M-45 Fungicide Mancozeb 75% WP 2 – 3 gm/lit of water
Ridomil Gold Fungicide Metalaxyl 4% + Mancozeb 64% WP 1.5 gm/lit of water
Blue Copper Fungicide Copper oxychloride 50% WP 2 gm/lit of water

 

Read more: Ginger Planting & Best Practices.

Recent Posts

INDAM-6024 Chilli: A Promising Hybrid for Long Harvesting and High Yields

India remains one of the largest global producers and consumers of chilli, cultivating a wide range of varieties to meet…

July 21, 2025

Indam-54 Chilli: A High-Pungency Hybrid for Versatile Commercial Cultivation

In the ever-evolving world of chilli cultivation, hybrids that combine adaptability, pungency, and dual-purpose utility are increasingly in demand. Among…

July 21, 2025

INDAM Marshal Onion: A High-Performing Hybrid for Early Maturity and Market Leadership

India ranks among the world’s top onion-producing countries, with onions forming a staple in Indian cuisine and a significant commodity…

July 21, 2025

INDAM-5 Chilli: A High-Yielding Hybrid for Dual-Purpose Cultivation

India, being one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of chilli, continues to see rising demand for superior chilli…

July 21, 2025

Delegate protected my maize crop from fall armyworm and also increased the yield – Pradeep Suryabhan Sonawane, Jalgaon, Maharashtra

When Pradeep Sonawane speaks, corn farmers across Maharashtra take note. In a season where Fall Armyworm continues to threaten maize…

July 9, 2025

Win ₹500* cash : Corteva makes weed control rewarding

Every rice farmer knows the pain. Before the crop stands tall, the weeds take over. Echinochloa, Cyperus, Ludwigia... they hit fast, draining…

July 3, 2025