1. It is primarily a diseases of conifer seedlings although many broad leaved species may also be attacked

2. Seedlings in large scale may be destroyed by

a. Pre emergent blight

b. Post-emergence mortality soon after germination

c. Root rot in older seedlings

Symptoms

1. In pre-emergence, the emergent crop, sparse may be wrongly attributed to poor viability of seeds.

2. In post emergence mortality, seedlings are attacked on the hypocotyl or on roots or both while still in the cotyledon stage.

3. In root rot, fungal attack on succulent root tips in older seedlings and transplants is not usually fatal. Excessive soil moisture or drought may cause root rot in seedlings.

Causes

1. This disease is caused by number of fungi which are normally soil saprophytes; but may be pathogenic in unfavourable condition.

2. The most important fungi causing damping off in conifer seedlings belongs to Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Fusarium etc.

3. Damping off is favoured in clayey and wet soils because of anaerobic conditions in the rooting zone and high temperature.

Control measures

1. Site should be selected with having light soil texture, acid soil (4.5 to 5.5 PH) and should be located on well drained site.

2. Soil or seed bed can be sterilized by steam or fumigants. Chemicals like - Formalin, Methyl bromide can be used two weeks before sowing seed.

3. Soil and seed can also be treated with chemicals. Fungicidal treatments may be useful for spp. which have hypogeal germination. Capton, Thiride, Cuman, Blitox, Zinc oxide can be used as chemicals.