Crop Clinic

The fungus is present in the soil as a slime mould.  Spores germinate in response to chemicals produced from the roots of host plants.  Conditions which favour this are wet compacted soils, since this favours the fungus, but also  leads to poor root development.

Once infected, roots become swollen and then rot.  Fungal spores are thn released back into the soil, where they can survive for over ten years until another brassica crop is grown.

Some cruciferous weeds can also be affected by clubroot, such as shepherds purse, or oilseed rape volunteers.

Clean land can be contminated by machinery moving fro an infested field to a clean field.  Placing swedes into fields for animal feed can also spread the disease to clean fields if clubroot is present on the swedes.

Once present in a field, growing brassicas on short rotations ca increase levels in the soil.

The soil from fields can be tested using the clubroot soil test.

The  clubroot test which helps determine the amount of clubroot in a field.  On the basis of the results, we can give advice on the ptential yield loss in a brassica crop.

For sampling please use the sampling link on this page.

Prices for 2006 are £41.00 + VAT  per sample. 

 If you require bulk orders, please contact us about pricing.

Send soil samples to the Crop Clinic.  If you would like someone to sample your fields, please contact us and we will put you in touch with your local advisory office.

Increasing soil pH though liming , ensuring good drainage and maintaining long rotations between brassica crops (at least four years) are the best methods to manage the disease.

Some winter oilseed rape varieties show good resistance to clubroot.  These include the variety Mendel. They will not give 100% control however, and this vareity is weak on light leaf spot and phoma.