Plant guide:ðĨĶ Broccoli
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Fungal
Clubroot on Broccoli
Commonly affects: Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
The plant wilts in the heat of the day and looks stunted and pale, with roots showing swollen, distorted, club-like galls when dug up.
Potential Causes
- 1Plasmodiophora brassicae, a soil-borne pathogen that persists for many years
- 2Acidic soil favouring the pathogen's activity
- 3Continuous brassica planting in the same soil without rotation
Solution Steps
- 1Remove and destroy affected plants, including root galls, rather than composting them
- 2Raise soil pH toward 7.2 with lime, since clubroot is suppressed in less acidic soil
- 3Rotate brassicas away from affected beds for at least 4-7 years
- 4Improve drainage, since the pathogen is more active in wet soil
Prevention Tip
Since clubroot spores persist in soil for years, liming to raise pH and strict long-term rotation are the only practical management tools.
